Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi Later Said the Route Would Be Temporary, Lasting Two to Four Months

Iran says it has agreed with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, without providing details. Esmaeil Baqaei said the agreement was "in the final stages" and that the "geographical coordinates of the route" had been settled, but warned that security remains affected by the US naval blockade of Iran's ports. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi later said the route would be temporary, lasting two to four months.

The US and Oman have not commented. Since US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, Tehran has largely blocked the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and LNG usually passes, causing volatile global oil prices. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump warned Iran would be "hit very hard" if the strait did not reopen very soon, despite senior US officials saying talks had progressed toward resuming shipments.

Iran denies negotiating with Washington. A June Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US to end fighting and reopen the strait collapsed within days. Iran has also threatened to impose fees on vessels crossing, and has attacked ships ignoring its clearance orders.