①Iran and Oman are drafting an agreement to implement 'passage supervision' on ship transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, but emphasized that passage will not be restricted; ②Iran stated that oil tanker transportation should be carried out under the supervision and coordination of the two countries to facilitate navigation and ensure safety.
According to domestic media citing Iranian official media on Thursday, Iran and Oman are drafting an agreement aimed at implementing 'passage supervision' for vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasizing that it will not restrict vessel passage.
The report stated that Kazem Garibabadi, Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that oil tanker transportation through this key channel 'should be conducted under the supervision and coordination of Iran and Oman.'
Garibabadi stated: 'Of course, these requirements do not mean restricting passage, but are intended to facilitate navigation, ensure safety, and provide better services for passing vessels.'
The joint establishment of a strait passage mechanism by Iran and Oman is not sudden. According to CCTV News, Omani Foreign Minister Badr recently posted on social media that Oman is accelerating relevant efforts to promote the establishment of a secure passage mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz.
Following this news, the three major U.S. stock indexes, which had plummeted in early trading on Thursday, quickly rebounded and even turned positive at one point.
Meanwhile, international oil prices, which had surged significantly, also retreated from their intraday highs at one point. The market believes that the relevant progress made by Oman has brought new hope, suggesting that partial resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz may be possible without relying on military means.
Since the strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28th, this globally critical oil transportation channel has effectively been closed.
Iran has stated that only vessels from 'friendly countries' are allowed to pass through, subject to its approval, and threats have been issued against any attempts to break the blockade; some vessels have already been damaged in the attacks.
Iran's blockade of the strait rapidly triggered a historic surge in oil prices and caused a chain reaction shock globally, potentially escalating into a broader economic crisis.
Trump insisted that the United States is hardly affected by the closure of this channel, as the amount of oil the U.S. imports through the strait is relatively limited. In his national address on Wednesday evening, he stated, 'We didn't rely on it in the past, and we don't need it now.'
Nevertheless, the average gasoline price in the United States surged over 30% within a month, marking the first time in years that it broke through the $4 per gallon threshold.
The U.S. government previously claimed that Iran has no right to exercise any form of control over the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is generally regarded as an international waterway. However, during times of war, Iran has repeatedly reinforced its sovereignty claims in the area and recently proposed a plan to charge tolls for passing vessels.
At its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz is only about 24 miles wide, stretching from the northernmost tip of Oman to the nearest Iranian coastline. This means that the narrowest part of the strait falls entirely within the territorial waters of the two countries.
Recently, some countries, including Malaysia and the Philippines, indicated that Iran has pledged to allow their ships to pass through; meanwhile, Iran has permitted certain vessels from friendly nations to transit the strait.
Editor/Doris