Iranian official says no signed Hormuz deal expected at Oman meeting

A meeting between Iran and several Gulf states is scheduled to take place on Monday in Oman. The gathering, which was initiated by Oman, is expected to provide a forum for discussing a range of regional issues, including the future of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has been in talks with Oman for months over a possible arrangement that would regulate traffic through the strait, which lies between the two countries. Oman, which controls the opposite bank of the waterway, says its negotiations are supported by other Arab Gulf nations. However, Oman has not issued an official announcement of the meeting, and most regional states have remained silent. Bahrain publicly stated that it will not attend any meetings with Iran.

According to an Iranian official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Iran continues to seek an agreement that would allow it to collect fees from vessels using the strait. Oman has so far rejected this proposal, maintaining its opposition to any fee‑collection mechanism.

Before the conflict that began in February, roughly one‑fifth of global oil supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States and Iran have recently exchanged fire on tankers in the waterway, prompting a surge in global oil prices over the past week.

The Iranian official indicated that, while the Oman meeting will allow the parties to discuss Hormuz and other matters, no signed agreement on the strait is expected to emerge from the talks on Monday.