IRGC REJECTS CLAIMS OF HORMUZ DEAL WITH OMAN

IRGC REJECTS CLAIMS OF HORMUZ DEAL WITH OMAN

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will depend on the United States accepting Tehran's conditions and is not linked to negotiations with Oman.

The statement appears to contradict recent reports suggesting that Oman was making progress with Iran towards an arrangement that could restore unrestricted commercial shipping through the vital waterway.

The distinction is significant.

 Tehran's message: Hormuz will reopen only when US conditions—or more precisely, US actions—meet Iran's requirements.

 Oman's role: Iran says the reopening should not be interpreted as the result of an Oman-mediated agreement.

 Washington's position: The US has indicated that restrictions on Iranian ports could be lifted if commercial shipping through Hormuz is restored without impediments.

This leaves the Strait at the centre of a potential tit-for-tat de-escalation deal.

The problem is that both sides appear to be attaching conditions to the same objective.

 Until those conditions are reconciled, commercial shipping remains vulnerable and the Strait of Hormuz will remain one of the biggest pressure points in the global energy market.

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