‘Single route’: Iran, Oman negotiate temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor

Iran is negotiating with Oman to establish a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz that would function as a single two-way route, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday.Baqaei said Iran had accepted responsibility under a June 18 memorandum to help manage navigation through the strategic waterway and had begun efforts to restore maritime traffic to pre-war levels within 30 days.He said those efforts were disrupted after the US "violated the agreement" by launching military attacks against Iran before the deadline and reinstating what Tehran described as an "unlawful maritime blockade" and restrictions on Iranian oil exports.Baqaei said talks with Oman were focused on replacing separate northern and southern routes with a single intermediate corridor that would address the interests and security concerns of both countries.He said the southern route through Omani waters, promoted by Washington following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, raised environmental and national…