Oman proposes regional mechanism for Strait of Hormuz management: Source
Oman has presented Iran with a proposal for a joint
regional mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz that would be funded through
voluntary user fees, a Gulf source told Reuters on Tuesday.
Under the Omani proposal, which the
source said has regional backing, Iran would not exercise sole control over the
strategic waterway.
The proposal is modelled on the
Strait of Malacca, where users of the shipping route voluntarily contribute
funds for navigation, environmental protection, and search-and-rescue
operations.
The proposal comes after the United States abruptly suspended a campaign of air
strikes against Iran over the weekend, raising hopes of a diplomatic solution
that could allow shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz, which carried
about one-fifth of global energy supplies before the conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on
Monday the United States was having "good talks" with Iran and that
there was a chance of reaching a deal, but warned that U.S. strikes would
resume if negotiations failed to produce results.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araqchi discussed the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani and Saudi counterparts on
Monday.
"He emphasised the need to
strengthen cooperation and advance joint diplomatic efforts to establish
stability in the region, and lift the insecurity imposed on the Strait of
Hormuz due to the aggressive actions of the United States," according to a
statement from Iran's foreign ministry.
