Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi to visit Tehran for Strait of Hormuz negotiations

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi will travel to Tehran on Tuesday to hold high-level consultations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding the management and security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed the visit on Monday, emphasizing that the discussions reflect ongoing bilateral efforts by the two littoral states to promote regional maritime stability.

Why is Oman negotiating maritime protocols with Iran?

The diplomatic mission comes as Iran continues to exercise operational control over the Strait of Hormuz, requiring passing merchant vessels to secure clearance and remit transit fees. Separating Iran and Oman at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the narrow waterway historically handled nearly 20 percent of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments before the outbreak of regional hostilities in February.

Muscat and Tehran are actively negotiating frameworks to establish a regulated shipping corridor through the strait. The talks follow a recent decision by Iranian authorities to grant passage to select Iraqi oil tankers following diplomatic appeals from Baghdad.

Middle East Eye reported that Oman seeks to establish predictable navigation guidelines to prevent accidental confrontations between commercial vessels and naval patrols operating along the shared maritime boundary.

How do the Hormuz negotiations fit into the broader US-Iran conflict?

The Omani diplomatic initiative coincides with parallel regional mediation efforts, including the arrival of Pakistan's military chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in Tehran on Monday. However, Iranian diplomatic officials reaffirmed that bilateral shipping arrangements with Oman will not fully reopen the strategic choke point to unrestricted international traffic unless Washington addresses Tehran's broader economic and security demands.

Tehran continues to condition the complete restoration of free navigation through the strait on the removal of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, the lifting of energy export sanctions, and the unfreezing of Iranian financial assets abroad.

Anadolu Agency reported that Washington maintains its stance calling for an immediate return to pre-war international navigation rights, even as the US Treasury Department prepares to outline additional secondary sanctions targeting third-party trade with Iran.