Oman has postponed planned Gulf-Iran talks aimed at securing regional support for a temporary shipping framework through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman has postponed a meeting between Gulf and Iranian foreign ministers that was scheduled for Monday in Salalah to discuss regional backing for a temporary framework governing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi announced the decision Sunday, saying it was made “in the interests of consensus.” He said Oman remained committed to dialogue aimed at promoting regional stability and long-term cooperation.
Mohammad Ali Bak, director-general of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Persian Gulf Department, said several regional countries had requested the postponement. He described it as a joint decision by Muscat and Tehran and said the two sides would determine a new date for the talks.
The meeting was an Omani-led initiative first reported by the Financial Times on Friday. It was intended to secure regional support for a temporary framework governing commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
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The planned talks followed signals in August that Iran and Oman were nearing an arrangement to ease disruptions to traffic through Hormuz. Any lasting agreement would likely require Washington’s approval, given the U.S. naval blockade of Iran and its objections to arrangements between Tehran and Muscat that bypass it.
Shipping through Hormuz remained well below prewar levels ahead of the scheduled meeting, while oil prices rose amid concerns that disruptions to supplies could continue.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the meeting as a foundational step toward regional security. Speaking to Al Mayadeen on Saturday, he said it would serve as a key building block for stability in the Gulf.
A source cited by Tasnim said the emerging Iran-Oman understanding would not immediately reopen the Strait but would instead lay the groundwork for doing so. Full reopening would remain contingent on Washington meeting Iran’s conditions, the source said.
Baghaei has also said Iran’s military response during the war targeted U.S. installations rather than the countries hosting them, emphasizing that Tehran did not directly target regional states.
The postponed meeting comes amid broader diplomatic contacts involving Iran and neighboring countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate calls this week with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir on efforts to contain regional tensions.
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Tehran and Abu Dhabi had agreed to “turn the page” following talks with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.