Oman initiated intensive diplomatic traffic on Monday to reduce tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the safety of maritime traffic in the region. Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi held separate phone calls with his counterparts from Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt.
According to a statement from the Omani Foreign Ministry, the parties emphasized the importance of reaching practical, fair, and sustainable agreements through political and diplomatic means for the safety of commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and the uninterrupted flow of supply chains. They also discussed the restoration of normalcy in maritime trade and supply chains linked to the regional and global economy, as well as continued coordination and consultation to support the security and stability of the region.
Following Tehran Negotiations
These diplomatic contacts came immediately after high-level talks held in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Friday and Saturday. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ismail Baqaei said on Monday that several rounds of negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz were conducted at the deputy foreign minister level between Iran and Oman, and that the meetings were "useful."
Escalation in the Region and Mediation Efforts
Oman's efforts come amid a cautious calm that has prevailed in the region since Friday. The U.S. strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory attacks came to a halt on the third day after the escalation that began on July 11. During this 13-day escalation, the U.S. hit targets inside Iran, while Iran targeted American military facilities and equipment in some Arab countries.
The tension erupted despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran last June that envisioned a ceasefire and included the start of negotiations for a broader deal to end the war launched by Israel and the United States on February 28. However, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 8 that the ceasefire was over following attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz for which Washington held Tehran responsible.
While Washington demands that Iran halt attacks on vessels and guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran insists that transit through this strategic waterway along its coast be subject to a mechanism it would regulate. This is heightening concerns that oil and natural gas exports from the region could be disrupted.
The Muscat government, for its part, reiterated its commitment to its mediation role, calling for the prevention of escalation and the continuation of international maritime trade and navigation without any restrictions.
