Iran and Gulf states are due to meet in Oman next week as part of an effort to secure a temporary agreement allowing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times has reported.
The talks are expected to take place on Monday, September 14, in the coastal city of Salalah. Gulf foreign ministers are due to meet Iran’s foreign minister at an initiative led by Oman, with several countries having agreed to attend, according to people briefed on the plans.
The meeting is intended to build regional support for arrangements to manage shipping through the strategic waterway, where commercial traffic has been severely disrupted.
Oman and Iran said in a joint statement on August 25 that they were working on a phased framework for a temporary navigational corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposals included a joint project to clear mines and technical talks on a permanent corridor, traffic management and maritime services.
The Omani foreign ministry also said that regional states bordering the Gulf should be involved in discussions, while stressing the need to respect international law and the sovereignty of coastal countries.
Any agreement involving the waterway is likely to face scrutiny from Washington. The United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iran and has opposed arrangements between Tehran and Muscat that do not include American involvement, the Financial Times reported.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, linking the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Oil flows through the channel have remained at only a fraction of their previous levels, adding to concerns over supply disruptions and higher prices.
The proposed meeting comes as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high, with recent attacks affecting shipping and few clear signs of a wider de-escalation.
