Oman Meeting Between Iran and Gulf States on Strait of Hormuz Postponed

International Desk

A meeting in Oman aimed at a possible agreement between Iran and Gulf Arab states on the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed. The regional meeting was scheduled to take place in the Omani city of Salalah on Monday (September 14), Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said in a statement on Sunday.

Background of the meeting

Iran has imposed a de facto blockade of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz since February 28 amid ongoing US-Iran tensions. The narrow waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass, has caused major instability in global energy markets and has hit Gulf Arab states hard, particularly oil exports and revenue. Attacks on ships have increased in recent weeks, following a recent attack on an Iranian merchant ship near Qeshm Island near the strait that killed at least one person and injured four others.

In this situation, Iran is reportedly trying to institutionalize its own control over the Strait of Hormuz—including the possibility of imposing fees for using the waterway. Iran has long been in talks with Oman to this end, as part of the strait also falls within Oman’s territorial waters.

Purpose of the meeting

The planned meeting was being seen as a “first step” in establishing a regional framework for security cooperation in the Gulf, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaie said the meeting would serve as an “essential foundation” for ensuring regional stability and security. He added that the event was a good sign of Iran’s long-standing position that regional countries should ensure their own security without outside interference. The main agenda was also expected to include progress in Iran-Oman talks on creating a safe and temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Why was the meeting postponed?

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said in a message on social media X that the regional meeting in Salalah, scheduled for tomorrow (Monday), has been postponed “in the interests of consensus.” The decision to postpone the meeting to a later date was made to create a conducive environment for constructive dialogue, help achieve sustainable understanding, support regional security and stability, and meet the aspirations of the people of the region for cooperation and peace, the Oman News Agency said in a statement.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said the suspension came at the request of some regional countries and was a joint decision between Tehran and Muscat. Several media reports also said Bahrain’s decision not to attend the meeting was one of the reasons behind the suspension.

However, despite the postponement of the meeting, Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is still in place, media reports said, further prolonging uncertainty in the global energy supply system.