Tehran, May 18 -- Spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmail Baghaei on Monday stated that the Islamic Republic is maintaining continuous talks with Oman to establish a new mechanism for managing the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating tension over the control of the strategic waterway in the region.

Addressing a press conference here, Baghaei said that the consultations aim to safeguard safe maritime traffic while protecting Iran's rights and sovereignty over the crucial waterway.

"The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway for the entire world, and we have always worked to protect safe traffic through this route," Baghaei stated.

"We continue to strive to ensure that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ...