Iran's foreign minister says Oman talks on Strait of Hormuz in final stage

TEHRAN, Iran — TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi said negotiations with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz have entered their final stage and are progressing positively, according to a statement from his ministry. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting in Tehran, Arakchi said the talks were moving toward a final understanding. The Foreign Ministry had previously confirmed that negotiations with Muscat were continuing on a new navigation arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz and on managing transit traffic through the waterway. The ministry said the discussions were focused on reaching a final understanding on the file. Arakchi's remarks followed comments by Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei, who said the talks were focused on a new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz and stressed that conditions in the strait would not return to their pre-war state. The sides have not disclosed the contents of the expected agreement or details of the final arrangements.