Iran has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to normal maritime traffic despite ongoing talks with Oman on a possible temporary transit arrangement, signalling that a full reopening of the strategically important waterway is not imminent.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would continue restricting passage through the strait, particularly for military vessels. Commercial ships could be assessed individually, but Iran has made clear that broader reopening would depend on the United States ending the war, lifting its blockade and addressing the situation in Yemen.

Gharibabadi said Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz before the United States imposed its economic blockade. He also accused Washington of failing to honour commitments under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June.

The comments followed discussions between Iranian and Omani officials on a phased framework for managing maritime traffic through the waterway. The proposed arrangement includes a temporary joint navigation corridor, cooperation on mine clearance and mechanisms for managing vessel movements.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has expressed hope that the temporary corridor could be announced soon. A longer-term framework would focus on traffic management, information sharing and maritime security.

Under the tentative arrangement described by Gharibabadi, the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed. Vessels entering the Persian Gulf would use Iranian waters, while vessels leaving the gulf would use Omani territorial waters. He described the proposed arrangement as a two-way maritime route with a total width of around seven nautical miles.

Gharibabadi stressed that the proposed mechanism should not be interpreted as a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The arrangement is expected to remain temporary while Iran and Oman negotiate a permanent route over the next 30 to 60 days.

Iran has also rejected US claims that mines have been cleared or detonated in international waters in the strait. Gharibabadi described the US statements as propaganda and warned that Iranian forces would target US minesweepers entering the area.

Iran has further indicated that military vessels will not be permitted to use the waterway, while commercial shipping will remain subject to Iranian monitoring and individual assessment.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor, making any prolonged restrictions on maritime traffic significant for crude oil and refined product supplies. Oman, which shares control over the approaches to the waterway with Iran, is seeking to keep diplomatic negotiations active and establish a mechanism that could eventually restore regular maritime traffic.