Iran holds crisis talks in Oman as US issues Strait of Hormuz demand
Iranian and Middle East diplomats held crisis talks in Oman Saturday to respond to the US demand that Tehran issue a public pledge to keep the Strait of Hormuz open – while reportedly weighing whether to propose a new travel route along the critical waterway.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was meeting with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi in Muscat to discuss “safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” according to state media in Tehran.
There were no indications top US officials were involved in the negotiations.
Qatari officials, who have sometimes served in a mediating role between the warring countries, are taking part in the discussions that included the possibility of creating a “median lane” through the strait, Axios reported.
The plan could represent a compromise – but it is unclear if it would satisfy the Trump administration.
The US wants shipping to travel through a southern route along the Omani coast, while Tehran wants vessels to hug the coast and go through areas it can control.
The US is demanding the Iranian regime issue a public statement acknowledging the waterway is open for business and pledge not to fire on any more ships – following a series of Iranian attacks in the strait that have drawn withering responses from the US military.
“They’re either going to give us that statement, or we’re not going to have a good outcome,” a US official told reporters Friday.
But Iran remained defiant and threatened to walk away from the negotiating table.
Read more Bullets fly at NYC hoops tournament, killing player and injuring two others: ‘We need more police’
“Should the United States continue to violate its obligations under the MoU, Iran will no longer be bound to fulfil its obligations under the MoU,” said Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, referencing a Memorandum of Understanding reached between the countries last month.
The US launched a series of military strikes against Iran last week, hitting more than 80 targets July 8 and another 90 on July 9 after Trump called the cease-fire with Tehran over.
Iran’s Health Ministry said Saturday the strikes resulted in 17 deaths and 115 injuries.
Meanwhile, commercial shipping was at a near standstill as the two sides seemed on the brink of returning to war.
Just 22 vessels traveled through the strait on July 9, down from 30 the day before, according to Marine Traffic data.
That number was down as little as 14 ships on Friday.
Most of the vessels opted for the route closest to the Iranian shore, with just a single ship crossing along the Omani coast, where recent Iranian attacks have occurred.
Read more Ex-Pentagon UFO honcho claims photos show monolith-like structures on moon
