Iran to brief Gulf states on Oman talks over Strait of Hormuz: Analysis

Iranian media report that Iran will brief Gulf countries on its negotiations with Oman at a meeting scheduled for Monday. Tehran and Muscat have held talks in recent weeks to draw up a framework for managing the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian media say any agreement will not mean the waterway reopens immediately. Iran, Iraq and other Gulf states are expected to attend, though Bahrain has said it will not. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, told Al Jazeera the meeting will brief regional delegations on the results of the Iran-Oman consultations on safe passage through the strait. Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow in Middle East and North Africa studies at Tehran University, says the talks cover legal and logistical aspects that need explaining to other stakeholders, even though the underlying agreement is bilateral. He notes the situation remains fragile, pointing to Donald Trump's threats of sanctions or strikes against Oman over any deal with Iran. Eslami says the Strait of Hormuz became a battlefield after what he calls America's "war of choice" on Iran, but that Tehran remains open to reopening it fully if Washington ends its naval blockade, adding that a closed strait is not what Iran wants. Subscribe to our channel: bit.ly
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