An Iranian delegation met in Oman on Saturday with Omani and Qatari mediators in an effort to reach an agreement on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. Journalist Barak Ravid reported that the United States has set an ultimatum for the end of the weekend to reach an agreement.
An Iranian delegation met in Oman on Saturday with Omani and Qatari mediators in an effort to resolve the crisis over the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. Journalist Barak Ravid reported that the United States has set an ultimatum for the end of the weekend to reach an agreement. The latest development comes after a day of diplomatic activity in Muscat.
The Zioneer reported earlier Saturday (19:21 Jerusalem) that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi, discussing navigation safety under Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding. Subsequent reports at the same time indicated that Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani joined the talks, though Iranian sources separately clarified that Qatar has no influence over the Strait of Hormuz, insisting it is a bilateral matter between Iran and Oman. The meeting follows earlier diplomatic efforts: The Zioneer reported on June 22 that the US and Iran had agreed to establish direct communications to keep the Strait open, and on June 21 that Iran linked the reopening of Hormuz to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the broader context of the crisis. On June 20, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, though the Pentagon and Centcom denied any disruption. The same day, Iranian sources threatened missile retaliation against Israel if IDF operations in southern Lebanon continued. The talks in Switzerland were part of a diplomatic push to de-escalate tensions.
The details of the proposed agreement and the Iranian response to the US ultimatum remain unclear. The role of Qatar in the talks is also ambiguous, given Tehran's statement that Doha has no sway over Hormuz. It is not yet known whether the weekend deadline will be met.
8 developments
- StrongIran says it will hold talks with Oman to set fees for Strait of Hormuz passage
- StrongIran says final agreement talks to start in coming days, Hormuz closure denied
- StrongQatar PM in Oman ahead of talks to open Hormuz between Gulf states and Iran
- StrongQatari delegation meets Iranian FM Araghchi in Mashhad, Iran confirms
Source and signal
- Internal intake