WANA (Jun 29) – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, announced that the first meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Hormuz Committee was held during his visit to Muscat.

 

In a post on X on Monday, Gharibabadi said the meeting was held with Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Al Hinai. The two sides reviewed the latest developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz and exchanged views on its future management under Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as well as the sovereign rights of the Strait’s coastal states.

 

Article 5 of the memorandum states that Iran will make every effort to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and will coordinate with Oman on the future administration of the waterway and related maritime services in accordance with international law and the sovereign rights of the coastal states. It also calls for consultations with the other Gulf littoral states on the matter.

 

The meeting follows recent remarks by Gharibabadi, who said that safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed through vague arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making processes that exclude Iran as a coastal state. He stressed that any credible framework for managing the Strait must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum.

 

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also stated that responsibility for arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz rests solely with Iran, urging all parties to refrain from interfering in Tehran’s plans for reopening and managing the waterway and to adhere to the signed memorandum.

 

The committee was established following Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s visit to Muscat, where Iran and Oman issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure for international shipping while respecting the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the two coastal states.

 

Both countries agreed to continue consultations through the joint committee on the future management of shipping, maritime services, and related fees, in line with international standards and in coordination with other regional stakeholders.