Ship disabled by attack in Strait of Hormuz and other news from around the Middle East

Iran and Oman held talks on Tuesday to create a phased plan for managing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed off nearly six months after the Iran war began. The meeting came after an attack disabled an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, highlighting the ongoing risks for maritime companies navigating the waterway under Iranian control.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi and Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi met in Tehran to establish a temporary navigational corridor and work towards clearing mines from the strait. The statement from both nations hinted at ongoing technical negotiations to form a permanent shipping route and an agreement on strait administration.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed an understanding of a temporary route during an interview on state TV. Under the proposed plan, shipping from the Gulf of Oman would pass entirely through Iranian waters, while outbound traffic would pass through both Iranian and Oman's territorial waters. Negotiations would continue over the next 30 to 60 days to agree on a new permanent and sustainable shipping route.

The Strait of Hormuz, once a vital route for about a fifth of the world's traded oil before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, remains a critical chokepoint in global energy supply. The U.S. President and senior officials have threatened military action should Oman obstruct efforts to reopen the strait. Iran's president and other senior officials also discussed the situation with a delegation from Pakistan following talks to restart negotiations aimed at ending the Iran-U.S. conflict.