Oman postpones talks between Iran and Gulf states on Strait of Hormuz

Oman announced late on Sunday that planned diplomatic talks between Iran and several Gulf states over the disputed Strait of Hormuz have been postponed.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said the meeting scheduled for today was put off "in the interest of consensus." He added on X: "We remain committed to promoting dialogue that supports stability and enduring cooperation in our region."

The foreign minister did not set a new date and offered no further explanation for the delay.

Who was invited

Ministers from Iran, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia had been invited to participate. Al-Busaidi and Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, were expected to brief government representatives on the status of the talks.

Tehran and Muscat have been negotiating for weeks on a mechanism to regulate vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global shipments of oil, gas and fertilizer. For Iranian authorities, the strait has become an important lever of pressure in their conflict with the United States.

Soon after the outbreak of war at the end of February, Iran largely restricted transit through the strait through threats and attacks on ships. Before the conflict the passage had been open to navigation. The U.S. Navy in turn imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports. Iran is seeking concessions from the American government in line with those agreed in a framework deal in June, while U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to press Iran through an "economic war."

Photo: press material from the event