Media: Framework for an interim, no-charge agreement between Iran and Oman

ON 7 AUGUST, ACCORDING TO NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES MEDIA, MS NOW, TWO MIDDLE EAST DIPLOMATS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS INDICATED THAT OMAN HAD AGREED TO A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITH IRAN TO REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ FOR THE TIME BEING. ACCORDING TO AN IRANIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, THE AGREEMENT WOULD ESTABLISH NEW SHIPPING ROUTES BY ALLOWING MERCHANT SHIPS TO ENTER THE PERSIAN GULF THROUGH ROUTES CONTROLLED BY IRAN AND THEN TO TRAVEL THROUGH ROUTES CONTROLLED BY OMAN. ACCORDING TO THE IRANIAN OFFICIAL, THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE TOLLS ON MERCHANT VESSELS SEEKING SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH THE WATERWAY. THE PROPOSAL IS AN “INTERIM AGREEMENT” THAT WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A NEW CEASEFIRE IN WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN AND THE RESUMPTION OF NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS. ACCORDING TO IRANIAN OFFICIALS, THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION AND THE UNITED STATES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT. A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL FROM THE GULF STATES STATED THAT THE ARRANGEMENT HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE GCC STATES. OFFICIALS HAVE NOT YET REVEALED WHEN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED. HOWEVER, WHETHER THE UNITED STATES WOULD SUPPORT THE STRAIT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WOULD DEPEND ON THE FINAL DETAILS. ACCORDING TO A UNITED STATES OFFICIAL, WASHINGTON, FOR ITS PART, SUPPORTED ONLY AN INTERIM AGREEMENT TO REOPEN THE STRAIT WITHOUT BARRIERS OR FEES. KIM XIAN