Baghaei says Iran and Oman have agreed the geographic coordinates of a Hormuz transit route, with a joint statement in final drafting

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday 5 August 2026, answering reporters' questions about regional and Western media reports, that talks between Iran and Oman as the two coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz have been under way for the past two months with the aim of establishing a safe transit route for commercial shipping, and that their technical, legal, security and environmental dimensions have been reviewed by the competent Iranian authorities.

He described the process as professional and moving forward, and said the geographic coordinates of the route the two sides have in mind have been agreed, with a joint statement covering the main agreed points now in final review and drafting, provided that certain third parties do not obstruct it.

At the same time, Baghaei cautioned that a bilateral Iran and Oman understanding does not by itself mean the strait becomes safe for transiting vessels. He said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz resulted from the military attack on Iran by the United States and Israel and its security consequences for the region, and that the destabilising factors from the US side, in particular the naval blockade, remain in place. He added that no trip by the foreign minister or the parliament speaker to Pakistan or Qatar is planned for the end of this week, although both countries are continuing their de-escalation efforts.