Iran's state broadcaster clarified that any bilateral navigation agreement reached with Oman will not immediately result in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, several media outlets reported Wednesday.
Tehran insists that fully restoring access to the vital waterway remains strictly conditional on changes to what it terms ongoing US violations and interference, the reports noted.
Citing an informed source, IRIB, Iranian state broadcaster reported that navigation negotiations are being conducted exclusively between Tehran and Muscat independently of the US, Al Jazeera Reported.
However, the waterway will remain shut until what Tehran terms"US violations" cease pushing back against reports that an imminent reopening is near, as per the report.
Simultaneously, the renewed American naval blockade has severely restricted outbound shipments, causing a growing flotilla of roughly 50 laden oil and fuel tankers to idle off Iran's coastline, according to nonprofit group United Against Nuclear Iran.
The standoff escalated after the US reinstated its naval blockade on Iranian ports on July 14, following a series of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping that began in early July.
The hostilities effectively collapsed the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, triggering subsequent US military strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assets and leaving energy markets on high alert.