Against the backdrop of ongoing tensions surrounding the issue of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a diplomatic delegation from Oman arrived in Iran on 24 July.
The Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that the delegation had arrived in Iran “with the aim of agreeing on appropriate mechanisms for regulating shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”. Representatives of both countries had previously met on several occasions to discuss this issue.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that a telephone conversation took place on 24 July between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi and his Omani counterpart Badr Al-Busaidi.
Al-Busaidi, who had travelled to Manila to attend the ASEAN ministerial meeting, wrote on social media platform X on 24 July that Oman emphasises the vital importance of international law, freedom of navigation and responsible cooperation between coastal states, as well as all countries using maritime routes.
Oman had previously proposed an alternative route for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that Oman and the International Maritime Organisation had designated a new route for ships without consulting Tehran, and warned ships not to use it.
Oman, situated along the south-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, occupies a strategic position at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Historically, the country has played a mediating role in regional disputes, maintaining diplomatic relations with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and Iran.