Iran Proposes Interim Plan for Management of Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz. (Wikimedia Commons/Ali khodabakhsh)

JAKARTA - Iran has proposed to Oman a temporary arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where one direction of traffic will pass through Iranian waters and part of the opposite route will also be in Iranian waters, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told state television on Tuesday.

Gharibabadi said Tehran rejected Oman's proposal for a similar transit route between the two countries, saying the plan did not address Tehran's security concerns until long-term regional stability was achieved.

He said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed if Muscat rejected Iran's proposal, adding that Tehran had never recognized the southern route along the coast of Oman, Al Arabiya reported from Reuters (29/7).

Gharibabadi also said Tehran had explained to Muscat that it no longer recognized the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), arguing that this lane, which is roughly in the middle of the waters, is mostly in Omani waters and is contrary to Iran's need to monitor ships that transit after being attacked by the US and Israel in late February.

The Integrated Safety System (TSS), adopted by the International Maritime Organization, is currently unusable due to the risk of mines and has been replaced by the northern route of Iran and the southern route of Oman.

"This is for national security and not intimidation because when TSS was in Oman waters for 60 years, we didn't say anything," Gharibabadi said.

The Iranian diplomat also warned that Tehran would not allow any third country, even if invited by Oman, to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz.