Tehran: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced that an upcoming regional meeting in Muscat will concentrate solely on establishing new maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Araghchi revealed in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the meeting involving Iran, its six southern neighbors, and Iraq will focus on crafting new maritime routes in the strategic waterway.

Araghchi noted that Iran and Oman have agreed on a new route and have prepared the necessary maps and a joint statement. These details will be presented to the participating countries and subsequently submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for registration. He clarified that the agreement does not imply the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz but rather sets the framework for maritime traffic should conditions for reopening be met.

The diplomat emphasized that the reopening of the Strait is conditional upon the United States returning to and fulfilling its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU). Iran, committed to securing maritime traffic, views U.S. actions such as the naval blockade and economic measures as the main sources of insecurity. The Iran-Oman agreement establishes the framework and new maritime routes that could facilitate restoring normal traffic if conditions are met.

Araghchi expressed Iran's stance that regional security should be managed by the countries within the region without foreign intervention, advocating for dialogue and cooperation among neighbors. He clarified that the upcoming meeting is not aimed at creating a new regional security mechanism but is seen as a confidence-building measure that could encourage regional cooperation and reduce external interference.

Additionally, Araghchi stated that the Muscat meeting will not address the Yemen conflict or resolve regional disputes, focusing strictly on maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. However, he suggested that direct dialogue among regional countries could enhance mutual understanding and help manage tensions. On Yemen, he reiterated Iran's position that the conflict requires a political solution through Yemeni dialogue.