Iran Strikes Deal With Oman Over Hormuz, Hits Back at Trump’s US Territory Threat

Washington: An important agreement has been reached between Iran and Oman regarding the safe movement of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This development has come to light at a time when tension between Iran and America has been going on for several months and the conflict between the two countries over this strategic sea route is increasing.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai said that talks with Oman on other issues are still going on, but separate arrangements have been made regarding the safe movement of ships. However, he says that due to US sanctions and naval blockade, it is not easy to restore complete normal security in Hormuz.

What did Trump say about Hormuz?

US President Donald Trump recently made a big statement regarding the Strait of Hormuz. During a political rally in New York, he said that he would consider declaring Hormuz as US territory after US action against Iran ends.

Trump also claimed that America is moving towards victory in the ongoing conflict against Iran. However, later the Wall Street Journal quoted a White House official as saying that Trump's comment was meant as a joke.

How did Iran respond to Trump's statement?

Immediately after Trump's statement, a sharp reaction came from Iran. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on social media that Hormuz has always been a part of Iran and will remain so.

Iran says that the decision to open or close this sea route falls within its jurisdiction. Tehran has been continuously making it clear that it is not ready to open Hormuz normally under American pressure.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important?

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important sea routes in the world. About one-fifth of global crude oil passes through this route. This is the reason why if the movement of ships is affected here, it has a direct impact on the international oil market.

The US wants the route to remain open to all commercial vessels, while Iran wants to maintain control over its operations based on its security and political conditions.

Can America step back in exchange for opening Hormuz?

According to reports, the US views the reopening of Hormuz as an important condition to end the ongoing conflict with Iran. Some reports also claim that the US may change its stance on the nuclear deal with Iran if Tehran agrees to restore normal movement of ships from Hormuz.

However, Iran's stance has been clear so far. Tehran says that unless America accepts all its major demands, the question of completely normalising Hormuz does not arise.

Amidst the ongoing standoff between Iran and America, this agreement on safe sea route with Oman is being considered a limited step towards reducing tension. However, the basic dispute between the two countries regarding Hormuz still persists.