Iran and Oman held technical consultations in Muscat on Tuesday to regulate traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, in a move that confirms the Iranian side’s determination to impose new rules of governance for the vital waterway instead of the situation that existed before the war, coinciding with Tehran’s announcement of expanding its strategic control over the strait.
An Iranian delegation, headed by Abbas Bagherpour, Director General for International Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with an Omani delegation in Muscat as part of ongoing bilateral consultations between the two countries. This was the second meeting since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, following the US and Israeli military action against Iran.
During the meeting, the latest developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz and arrangements for ensuring the safe passage of ships were discussed. Both sides affirmed their sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the strait, considering it part of the territorial waters of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman. The Iranian delegation also met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi.
In a related development, the delegation held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, who was visiting Oman concurrently with the meetings, where relevant technical matters were discussed. Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes, since February 28th, following a US-Israeli attack. Since then, Iran has repeatedly stated that the situation in the strait will not return to its pre-war state and has insisted on its control of the strait and the imposition of transit fees.
Earlier today, Brigadier General Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, confirmed that the geographical view of the Strait of Hormuz has changed compared to the past, as it was previously defined as a limited area around islands such as Hormuz and Hendam, while today, according to the new plan, it has become a vast strategic area extending from the coasts of Jask and Sirik to beyond the major islands.
In an interview with Iranian television, he stated that Iran is monitoring American movements in the region "very closely and effectively," emphasizing that it "will not allow any aggression against its waters and interests." Akbarzadeh said that the Islamic Republic "has firmly confronted American ambitions" in the region, adding that Iran has taught the Americans "a good lesson" in matters related to oil tankers, and that Washington has effectively backed down. He added that the Strait of Hormuz has expanded from a width of 20 to 30 miles to more than 200 to 300 miles, or about 500 kilometers, stretching from Jask and Sirik to beyond Qeshm Island and Greater Tunb.
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