Tehran [Iran], August 10 : Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday said the Islamic Republic and Oman are developing new mechanisms to monitor the safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, while maintaining that continued US violations of an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) prevent the strategic waterway from being declared safe.
Addressing a press briefing, Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that the discussions between Tehran and Muscat were progressing "in a very smooth and constructive manner", with the two sides having reached an understanding on a traffic map through the Strait.
He said the proposed mechanisms would go beyond monitoring shipping and would also cover environmental issues, maritime services and combating crime.
"What is clear is that mechanisms will be established that, in addition to monitoring the safe passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, will provide the necessary measures on issues related to the environment, cooperation in providing maritime services, and combating crime," Baghaei said.
The Iranian spokesperson said technical discussions on a joint statement were still underway, adding that questions concerning transit fees and their distribution between Iran and Oman were not currently being discussed.
"Let me also inform you that discussions are still ongoing. I had previously said that an understanding has been reached regarding the traffic map. Regarding the joint statement, there are still some technical points that are being discussed, but the negotiations are taking place in a very smooth and constructive manner," he added.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson further stated that while the two sides were discussing the practical arrangements for shipping, compensation for maritime services would ordinarily be expected.
"As a rule, when you provide maritime services, you should definitely receive compensation for it," he said.
Meanwhile, responding to a question on what Iran considers necessary for the Strait of Hormuz to be fully opened and for the naval blockade to end, Baghaei drew a distinction between the bilateral discussions with Oman and the wider military situation involving the United States.
He said the Strait was not closed because of a dispute between Iran and Oman, but as a consequence of the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran and the use of bases along the southern Persian Gulf coast.
"The reason for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran and the misuse of the Strait of Hormuz and the use of bases located on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf to attack Iran," Baghaei said.
He said the negotiations with Oman were therefore focused specifically on establishing a safe shipping route, while the question of fully opening the Strait remained linked to the broader military situation.
"The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is subject to the fulfilment of the conditions that have been imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, this waterway, and the entire region due to the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime," he said.
Baghaei further stressed that Tehran considers itself to remain in a state of war.
"Keep in mind that we are still at war," he said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran would not consider the waterway fully safe while what it describes as a US naval blockade and other violations continue, adding that the bilateral understanding with Oman, even if finalised, would not by itself be sufficient to establish conditions for a complete reopening of the Strait.
"As long as the US naval blockade continues, according to UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, such a naval blockade is an act of aggression," Baghaei said.
"As long as other US violations continue, the necessary conditions will not exist to say that the Strait of Hormuz has become a safe waterway," he added.