26.08.2026 09:11
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Garibabadi said that with the agreement reached with Oman, the southern corridor in the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, the shipping route is temporarily 7 miles wide, and the strait will only open if the US fulfills its commitments.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that under the agreement reached with Oman, the shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz is 7 miles wide, and the southern corridor has been closed.
Speaking to Iranian state television, Gharibabadi provided details about the agreement reached with Oman regarding the maritime shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Gharibabadi noted that an agreement was reached with Oman to activate a joint corridor in the Strait of Hormuz, which he said means the closure of the southern corridor.
Under the agreement, it was decided that the shipping route in the strait would temporarily be 7 miles wide, Gharibabadi said, emphasizing that Oman agreed to completely close the southern route and that the Iranian armed forces currently do not permit passage through the southern route.
Gharibabadi said the route in question is temporary and that a permanent route will be negotiated with Oman.
The Iranian official, who argued that the Strait of Hormuz is still closed and that Iran has full control over the strait, said claims that ships are passing through the strait do not reflect reality.
Gharibabadi stressed that the US and other countries must know that 'the Strait of Hormuz will only be opened within the framework of regulations set by Iran.'
'FOR THE STRAIT TO REOPEN, THE US MUST FULFILL ITS COMMITMENTS'
'Before any step is taken toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the US must fully fulfill all the commitments it has violated,' Gharibabadi said, continuing as follows:
'The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will only take place in exchange for ending the war on all fronts, lifting the blockade, and resolving Yemen's situation.'
Gharibabadi said the reason the text of the agreements reached today between Iran and Oman was not published, and only a press statement was made, is that the Tehran administration has not yet made any commitments.
The mine issue in the strait
In response to a question about statements by some US officials that mines had been cleared and that ships would be sent to clear others, Gharibabadi said, 'If the US claims the mines are completely cleared, why is no US ship passing through? If they cleared them, why aren't they passing? No one but Iran knows the location of these mines.'
Reacting to the US plans to send minesweeper ships, the Iranian official said, 'If US minesweeper ships enter the region, they will become targets for us. Trump's statements about mine clearance are only aimed at calming the markets.'
MESSAGE SENT TO THE US VIA PAKISTAN
Gharibabadi said that during the Tehran visit of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Marshal Asim Munir, Iran's message to the US conveyed that there was no need for further negotiations and that the US must comply with the Islamabad agreement and fulfill its commitments in the memorandum of understanding to open the Strait of Hormuz.