Iran’s foreign minister landed in Oman today to discuss the Strait of Hormuz after renewed clashes threatened the fragile US-Iran ceasefire this week. But Oman hasn’t been publicly leading mediation efforts, so why are high-stakes meetings taking place in Muscat?
The memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran last month stipulates that Iran “will conduct dialog” with Oman “to define the future administration and maritime services” in the strait.
The current crisis started after the US retaliated against Iran for attacking vessels transiting via a route on the Omani side of the strait that Tehran hadn’t approved. Iran insists on retaining control over shipping through the waterway and says vessels should instead use routes through its own territorial waters.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says Araghchi’s visit is “part of ongoing bilateral consultations between Iran and Oman.” It’s unclear if Oman is now playing a bigger role in calming tensions but US officials say that Washington expects Tehran to issue a statement after Araghchi’s visit declaring the strait open and saying commercial vessels won’t be attacked.
Oman had been mediating earlier rounds of talks between the US and Iran. But after the US and Israel began striking Iran this year, Oman was usually blunt, becoming an outspoken critic of Trump’s decision to go to war.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi condemned the initial February strikes as a “catastrophe” and a “grave miscalculation.”
Meanwhile, the task of mediation was taken up by Qatar and Pakistan, with Pakistan becoming an unlikely host due to a combination of geographic necessity, deft diplomacy, and shifting regional alliances, analysts say.
In May, after reports that Oman and Iran were considering jointly charging ships to transit the strait, Trump issued a threat, telling reporters: “Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up.”
The US Treasury followed by threatening sanctions against the longstanding US ally in the Gulf.
Still, Oman remains key to resolving this conflict. The ceasefire framework explicitly designates Iran and Oman to negotiate the strategic waterway’s future management, giving Araghchi’s visit to Muscat particular significance.
