Iran says Saudi Arabia requested postponement of Hormuz meeting

Iran said on Monday that Saudi Arabia had requested the postponement of a planned meeting with Gulf countries in Oman on managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while rejecting Riyadh's explanation that the delay was linked to the war in Yemen.

Why was the Strait of Hormuz meeting postponed?

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed Saudi Arabia asked for the delay but rejected Riyadh's stated reason. He said linking the postponement to the war in Yemen was a false pretext, though he offered no alternative explanation for the request.

"It is true that Saudi Arabia asked for this meeting to be postponed," Baqaei told reporters in Tehran. "Invoking the Yemeni issue as the reason is a false pretext." The meeting was due to address arrangements for the strategically important waterway, which has faced major disruption during the wider Middle East war.

Is Iran involved in the war in Yemen?

Baqaei's comments came as Tehran also denied any involvement in the war in Yemen, after the Iran-allied Houthi movement seized more territory and intensified pressure on another key maritime route.

"Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs," Baqaei said, describing the Houthis as "entirely independent actors who make their decisions based on their own interests".

The developments have raised concerns over the security of two of the region's most important waterways, the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab, as the conflict continues to disrupt shipping and energy markets.

Does Iran control the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz has been under an Iranian blockade, followed by a US blockade, since 28 February, when US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a wider regional war. A June agreement between Washington and Tehran later faltered over disagreements concerning Hormuz.

In recent days, a major Houthi offensive has also given the Tehran-allied group greater leverage over the Bab al-Mandab, a key shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. More than six months into the wider Middle East war, restrictions around Hormuz have continued to put pressure on global energy markets, with oil prices rising above $100 a barrel this week.

What are the new rules for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz?

Oman and Iran have been discussing for several weeks how to manage traffic through the waterway, which connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and carries a significant share of global energy shipments. The strait was open to normal maritime traffic before the war.

Iran now requires vessels to obtain permission to transit and is considering a mechanism to impose service fees, according to the account provided. Ships that fail to comply are regularly targeted by Iranian strikes, while the United States has periodically bombed Iran's coastline in an effort to challenge Tehran's control of the waterway.

The postponement of the Oman meeting adds another complication to efforts to manage maritime traffic through Hormuz, while the fighting in Yemen threatens to create further disruption along the Bab al-Mandab. Together, the developments have heightened uncertainty over shipping and energy supplies as the wider regional conflict continues.