Iran says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed if Oman rejects proposal

The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed if Oman does not accept Iran's proposal, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, Report informs, citing Tasnim.

He said Iran had proposed discussions with Oman on a temporary route in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that if an agreement is reached, it would replace the northern and southern routes in the waterway.

According to Gharibabadi, Oman proposed organizing control over the strait on an equal basis, but Iran rejected the proposal.

"We said that the entry route should remain fully under Iran's control, while part of the exit route should also remain under Iran's control. If they accept this, we will move to the next stage. We do not officially recognize the southern route of the strait," the deputy foreign minister said.

He stressed that Iran does not accept any other formula.

Earlier, it was reported that Iran and Oman had held discussions on ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.