Oman Hormuz talks begin in Tehran as US-Iran strikes continue
Omani diplomats are discussing Strait of Hormuz shipping arrangements in Tehran as fighting keeps pressure on global energy markets.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Oman Hormuz talks opened in Tehran late Friday, with Omani diplomats meeting Iranian officials about how shipping could be handled through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported. The discussions come as the United States and Iran traded attacks for a 14th straight day and the closure of the waterway pushed energy prices higher, according to Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters.
IRNA described the visit as part of continuing consultations between Muscat and Tehran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also spoke by phone with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.
No proposal was made public. Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters reported that Iran has said during the war that it is willing to coordinate with Oman over management of the strait, while the United States and Gulf states have opposed that arrangement.
Why is Oman involved in Strait of Hormuz talks?
Oman sits at the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz and has kept relations with both Iran and Gulf Arab states. It has also acted as a mediator in regional disputes, giving Muscat a role in discussions over shipping access.
Albusaidi wrote on X that “vital waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz,” should stay open to navigation and international trade without restrictions that block access. His post did not give details on the talks in Tehran.
What is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters reported that about 20 percent of global oil and gas exports moved through it before the conflict began, making any disruption a direct concern for energy markets.
The strait has become a central flashpoint in the war, according to Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters. A memorandum of understanding produced a pause in fighting last month, but that effort collapsed largely over disagreements about what had been agreed on freedom of navigation through the waterway.
The conflict widened this week after Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters. The Houthis have continued to target Saudi tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, though a Houthi spokesman denied that the group had closed the waterway.
Iran’s military said Friday it had launched more attacks on US bases in the region, which Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters said have been Iran’s main targets during the hostilities. Attacks were reported on bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, and a drone crash near Erbil International Airport in Iraq briefly halted flights.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck an Amazon data centre in Bahrain, accusing the company of giving intelligence support to the US military. The claim was reported by Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters.
US Central Command said it had concluded air strikes on Iran. Iranian media reported blasts in several places, including Khorramabad, Jask, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, with four people injured. Iran’s Health Ministry said recent US attacks have killed at least 55 people and wounded nearly 650.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.