Iran says to discuss Hormuz with Gulf states in Oman on Monday

Tehran — Iran's foreign ministry announced on Friday that the country would convene with Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a matter of grave importance following Iran's blockade during the ongoing Middle East conflict. The statement emphasized that the meeting aims to foster greater mutual understanding among regional nations and bolster shared security, with Iraq and other Persian Gulf littoral states expected to participate.

The Middle East war, which commenced on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes that resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader, has led to Iran's retaliatory actions across the region and the imposition of a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic waterway, through which one-fifth of global oil supplies once passed, continues to exert upward pressure on oil prices, breaching the $100 per barrel threshold this week.

Oman and Iran, both sharing borders with the critical strait, have been engaged in discussions for several weeks to determine how the vital waterway will be managed moving forward. Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz remained open to navigation, but Iran now mandates vessels to seek authorization and maintain stringent control over its transit.