Iran and Oman Near Shipping Route Deal, But Key Waterway May Stay Closed

Iran’s foreign minister says the country is close to finalising a shipping route agreement with Oman. However, he warned that the deal would not automatically lead to the reopening of the crucial waterway. The announcement signals progress in regional negotiations, but it stops short of promising a return to normal maritime traffic. The waterway in question remains a critical passage for global oil and goods shipments. Officials have not provided a timeline for when the agreement might be signed or what specific conditions would need to be met for the waterway to reopen. For now, the deal appears to be a diplomatic step forward, not a full resolution.