The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, reported this Sunday that negotiations with Oman to finalize the status of the Strait of Hormuz have entered their "final phase," reiterating once again that the United States plays "absolutely no" role in this process.
Tehran and Muscat have been engaged in direct dialogue for several weeks to finalize the details regarding the management of this maritime passage they share. The dominance that Iran currently exercises over the strait, key for the global supply of crude oil, has become its main strategic tool against the United States, which has so far only managed to establish a blockade in the surrounding area.
At the same time that Araqchi spoke about the final stretch of the talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement emphasizing that "the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous state under any circumstances," referring to the situation of free passage prior to the outbreak of the war.
However, the Ministry clarified that Iran maintains its commitment to the diplomatic route with Oman with the aim of reaching a "mutual agreement" that "serves Iranian interests" and remains free from any pressure from Washington. "The talks between Iran and Oman are bilateral and do not concern the other party," the department stressed in statements released by the state broadcaster IRIB.
Hours earlier, Iranian political leaders and military commanders had come forward to deny the latest message sent in the early morning by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he suggested a supposed reopening of the strait.
The Iranian agency Tasnim, close to the Revolutionary Guard, also refuted Trump's message, in which he claimed to have decided to halt the latest military operations against Iran, supposedly at Tehran's request, with a view to a possible reopening of the passage.
In fact, the head of Iranian diplomacy conveyed this Saturday night to his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, that the situation in Hormuz remains unchanged and that the country is ready to respond to any attack from the United States. This exchange with the Saudi minister was later presented by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the phone conversation he had this Sunday with Trump.