BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is "very close to an agreement" with Oman over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while accusing the United States of violating a previously reached memorandum of understanding.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Araghchi said Iran had been implementing Clause 5 of the memorandum reached in Pakistan, under which maritime traffic was expected to return to normal within a month.
According to the foreign minister, traffic through the strategic waterway had already recovered to about 60 percent of normal levels within two weeks.
Araghchi, however, accused Washington of attempting to establish new shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz despite warnings from Tehran.
He said current negotiations between Iran and Oman are focused on establishing a temporary shipping route before the two sides reach an agreement on a permanent arrangement.
"Before reaching a new route, a temporary route will be considered as the basis for the main route," Araghchi said.
The Iranian foreign minister added that negotiations have also taken place between the military and naval forces of Iran and Oman.
