Oman talking with Tehran on Hormuz as US and Iran continue strikes

What Happened

An Omani delegation arrived in Tehran late on Friday to discuss mechanisms for managing shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. The visit, part of ongoing consultations, saw Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hold a phone call with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi, who later posted on X that 'vital waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, must remain open and accessible for navigation.' No details of the proposals were released, but Oman holds a strategic position at the strait's entrance and has historically mediated regional disputes. Meanwhile, the US and Iran exchanged air strikes for the 14th consecutive day, despite efforts to revive a Memorandum of Understanding that collapsed over disagreements on freedom of navigation. Iran's military claimed attacks on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, while a drone crash near Erbil International Airport forced a temporary flight suspension. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted an Amazon data centre in Bahrain for 'providing intelligence support for the American child-killing army.' US Central Command stated it had concluded air strikes on Iran, and Iranian media reported blasts in Khorramabad, Jask, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm Island, with four injured. Iran's Health Ministry said at least 55 people have been killed and nearly 650 injured in recent US attacks. Houthi rebels declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday and have reportedly targeted Saudi tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, though a Houthi spokesman denied shutting the waterway.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas exports, and the current hostilities—paired with Houthi actions—threaten to disrupt energy markets and international trade. Oman's mediation offers a potential off-ramp, but the collapse of a previous truce and the continued exchange of strikes underscore a high risk of further escalation that could draw in additional regional actors and spill over into broader maritime conflict.

Watch For

Whether the Omani talks produce any navigation agreement or lead to a renewed Memorandum of Understanding; any intensification or expansion of US-Iran strikes, particularly if civilian casualties rise; Houthi enforcement of the declared blockade and its impact on Saudi-bound shipping; and any diplomatic signals from other Gulf states or global powers regarding freedom of navigation in the strait.