A planned meeting between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed. The Oman's Foreign Minister, Badr al-Busaidi, announced the delay, stating that the regional gathering in Salalah was postponed in the interest of achieving consensus. The original intention was for Iran and Oman to present an agreement concerning the ongoing dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.
Al-Busaidi emphasized that efforts toward dialogue aimed at fostering stability and lasting cooperation in the region would continue. No further details regarding the reasons for the postponement or a new date were provided. An Iranian Foreign Ministry representative confirmed that Tehran and Muscat agreed to postpone the summit based on a mutual decision and at the request of several regional countries.
Bahrain, which had previously faced significant Iranian missile attacks, had already indicated it would boycott the meeting. Reports suggested that other Gulf states were invited primarily to be informed of the agreement's specifics. According to journalist Barak Ravid, citing a high-ranking representative from a Gulf state, Saudi Arabia submitted amendments to the proposed Oman-Iran agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh expressed concerns that the proposed wording could effectively establish a new status quo in the strait that would be unacceptable to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. The outlet "amwaj" also reported prior tensions among the invited countries, with the United Arab Emirates reportedly sending only a state secretary instead of their foreign minister.
In related developments, the price of Brent crude oil has seen significant increases, surpassing $100 per barrel for the first time since May. This surge is attributed to escalating attacks on critical shipping routes in the Middle East, fueling concerns about potential supply disruptions. The closure of a key Saudi oil pipeline, the East-West line, due to drone attacks originating from Iraq, has further exacerbated these worries. This pipeline, crucial for global oil supply bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, where tanker traffic has been severely impacted by the conflict.
The Houthi militia, allied with Iran, has also reportedly gained control of the strategic island of Perim at the southern entrance to the Bab al-Mandab strait, another vital shipping route. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have thus far yielded little progress. While Iran seeks recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz to potentially impose transit fees, the United States opposes this demand.
