Oman has announced the postponement of a planned regional meeting between Iran and Gulf states regarding safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian foreign ministry official stated that certain regional countries requested the delay, which was agreed jointly by Tehran and Muscat to help build broader consensus before talks resume.
The delay coincides with a sharp rise in oil prices, with benchmark crude briefly trading above $107 a barrel amid mounting concerns over shipping disruptions in the strait. This diplomatic setback follows months of naval tension in the Gulf that prompted the U.S. military to redirect over 100 commercial vessels, as well as ongoing attacks and threats against shipping that have forced closures of key infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
Analysts noted that the failure to convene the meeting highlights the ongoing difficulty of building trust between Iran and its Gulf neighbors amid a wider regional conflict. Although diplomats from Oman and other Gulf states intend to reschedule the talks, no firm new date has been set, leaving the issue of secure navigation unresolved and prolonging uncertainty in global energy markets.