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Pakistan, the primary mediator between the U.S. and Iran, has supported the “restoration of status quo” for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, foreign ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters Wednesday in Islamabad.
He acknowledged, however, Iran and Oman’s attempt to lay some claim to the vital waterway and said Islamabad would “support regional efforts” in that regard.
“Pakistan has supported the restoration of status quo ante on the Strait of Hormuz,” said Andrabi, referring to the conditions prior to the U.S. and Israel launching their joint war on Iran. Navigation through the international waterway was free and unrestricted until the conflict. Its de-facto closure by Iran in retaliation for the war sent global gas and oil prices skyrocketing.
Iran and Oman have said that, following the current 60-day period of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, they will implement a new system as the two states with coastline in the strait to control maritime traffic, which could include “costs” for shippers.
“We have taken note of the parlays, at least the press releases on the parlays, between Iran and Oman on this subject,” Andrabi said Wednesday. “We will support regional efforts, and with a spirit of regional ownership of this process, particularly the littoral states to the Gulf, as such.”
CBS News
He said the “R4” countries — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt — “would obviously be supporting any regional solution to this issue, particularly with respect to respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the natural maritime boundaries of the littoral states to the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.”
