40-Day War Shifts Iran’s Strategic Focus to Strait of Hormuz: Ghareebabadi

TEHRAN: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said that following the recent 40-day war, Iran’s strategic focus has shifted toward the Strait of Hormuz, which has now become a matter of national security for the country.

Gharibabadi said Iran and Oman are the only coastal countries of the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that there had been no major issues concerning the waterway before the recent wars.

He said that for the past 58 years, vessels had been using routes through Omani waters, a situation that he claimed had caused significant losses for Iran.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister clarified that the agreement reached with Oman does not mean the Strait of Hormuz will immediately be fully reopened. He said changes to the existing maritime routes are necessary.

Under the interim arrangement, vessels entering the Persian Gulf will pass through Iranian territorial waters, while maritime traffic leaving the Persian Gulf will use Oman’s territorial waters, according to Gharibabadi.

He said Iran and Oman would have 30 to 60 days under the interim arrangement to negotiate a permanent framework for maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gharibabadi further stated that an agreement had been reached to keep the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz closed, while further negotiations between Iran and Oman would continue to determine a permanent arrangement.