Iran Foreign Minister Discusses Hormuz Security With Saudi, Omani Peers

Diplomatic Contacts Over Strait of Hormuz Security

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi used his Telegram channel to announce that he held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Monday evening, addressing critical security issues across the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to official statements released by Tehran, the top diplomat discussed the latest bilateral and regional developments while stressing the absolute necessity of reinforcing cooperation and joint diplomatic efforts to establish regional stability, and to counter the lack of security caused by American hostile actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The diplomatic outreach followed a period of acute regional escalation. The connection between Araghchi and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, came after Riyadh announced the interception and downing of drones launched at the kingdom from Iraq by Iran-linked groups. Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received phone calls from Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. During these calls, the ministers discussed regional developments and expressed their condemnation and denunciation of the attacks carried out by Iran and its terrorist militias in Yemen and Iraq targeting Saudi Arabia and countries in the region.

Omani Proposal for Regional Management of the Strait

Amid these high-level discussions, a fresh diplomatic initiative emerged from Muscat. Oman presented a proposal supported regionally to Iran regarding a joint regional mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz with voluntary fees, as reported by Reuters citing a Gulf source. The Gulf source stated that the Omani proposal is inspired by the approach followed in the Strait of Malacca, where users voluntarily contribute to fund navigation operations, environmental protection, and search and rescue. The source emphasized that under the proposal, Iran would not exercise single-handed control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran maintains that Iran has been exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on February 28, causing disruptions to navigation in the vital corridor. This issue of control remains a primary obstacle to any potential settlement between the United States and Iran, with Tehran insisting that traffic in the strait will not return to pre-war conditions and must remain under its supervision in consultation with Oman, which borders the other side of the strait. Nonetheless, the past days have seen a decrease in the intensity of hostilities in the region.

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Navigational Standoffs and Ceasefire Negotiations

The maritime discussions unfold against a backdrop of fragile calm. A cautious calm has prevailed between Iran and the United States for the third night amid a halt in direct strikes between the parties, coinciding with statements from U.S. President Donald Trump about “very deep” negotiations with Tehran alongside regional and international diplomatic movements. No official announcement of a ceasefire or agreement has been made yet, though the cessation of military operations alongside ongoing communications raises questions about whether the current phase represents an undeclared de-escalation or a temporary halt pending negotiation outcomes. This quiet followed 13 nights of American strikes on Iran, which Tehran answered with attacks it announced targeted American bases and interests in the region before both sides stopped carrying out direct new strikes.

Tensions at sea remain palpable. Iranian authorities announced returning five ships to the Gulf following an attempt by six vessels to cross what was described as an illegal and unsafe route in the south of the Strait of Hormuz, with one ship suffering an incident during the operation according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The Iranian television quoted an Iranian official stating that the six vessels turned off their navigation and positioning systems in the early hours of Monday morning in an attempt to cross the southern corridor, accusing the U.S. military of “inciting” this step. The official added that authorities returned five ships while the sixth suffered an incident, stressing that the designated navigation route in the Strait of Hormuz is the only one permitted and that remaining routes are polluted and do not lead to any destination.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated on Tuesday that Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed Strait of Hormuz security in separate phone calls with his Saudi and Omani counterparts, focusing discussions on navigational security in the Gulf and regional stability. Araghchi stressed the importance of maintaining safety and freedom of marine navigation in the strait, considering that the security of this vital waterway is a shared responsibility falling on regional countries without external intervention. The talks examined mechanisms to enhance joint cooperation between Tehran, Riyadh, and Muscat to face growing security challenges and ensure stable global energy supplies, while the Iranian side appreciated Oman’s historical and ongoing role as a primary diplomatic channel to bridge viewpoints and resolve regional and international disputes.