Oman talking with Tehran on Hormuz as US and Iran continue strikes
An Omani delegation has arrived in Tehran to discuss management of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing US-Iran military exchanges. The strait, through which approximately 20 percent of global oil and gas exports passed before the conflict, has become a central focus of hostilities affecting global energy prices.
Diplomatic efforts to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz have intensified as an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran for consultations with Iranian officials on navigation mechanisms. The talks represent part of broader coordination between Iran and Oman, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaging his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi in preliminary discussions. No substantive details regarding proposed solutions were disclosed by either party.
The strategic waterway has emerged as the primary flashpoint in escalating US-Iran hostilities, with control over shipping lanes directly impacting global energy markets. Before the outbreak of conflict, the strait facilitated approximately 20 percent of worldwide oil and gas exports. Iran has consistently expressed willingness to manage the waterway through coordination with Oman, though the United States and Gulf states have rejected this arrangement. Oman's geographic position at the strait's entrance and exit, combined with its historical role as a regional mediator maintaining relations with both Iran and Gulf states, positions it uniquely for such negotiations.
Meanwhile, military escalation has continued unabated, with the US and Iran exchanging airstrikes for the 14th consecutive day despite diplomatic initiatives. A previous Memorandum of Understanding achieved a temporary pause in fighting last month but collapsed over disagreements regarding freedom of navigation provisions. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported strikes on US military installations across Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, while also claiming an attack on Amazon's data centre in Bahrain. A drone incident near Iraq's Erbil International Airport temporarily disrupted flight operations.
The conflict has expanded geographically following Houthi rebels' declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, introducing additional pressure on regional shipping routes. The Houthis have reportedly targeted Saudi tankers and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, though a Houthi spokesman disputed claims of complete waterway closure. The US Central Command indicated conclusion of its air operations, while Iranian media reported injuries from explosions in multiple cities.
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