Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson of the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that talks between Tehran and Muscat regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz are still ongoing, and that the main focus of the talks is determining safe routes for the ships’ travel to and from.

The remarks are made while U.S. officials have reported that a deal is close to being reached.

On Tuesday, 13 Mordad, Baghaei told IRIB news agency that negotiations between Iran and Oman are being pursued “with a focus on determining safe routes for ships’ travel to and from.”