Iran announced on August 6 that an agreement in principle has been reached with Oman to manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, though the deal is described as a temporary route lasting two to four months and does not mean a full reopening. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that an understanding has been reached on almost all issues, including entry and exit routes, but cautioned that the deal depends on changes in U.S. behavior and the lifting of Washington's blockade on Iranian ports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei noted that negotiations were forward-moving but could be obstructed by certain third parties, without explicitly naming the U.S.