WANA (May 24) – As regional consultations continue, an Iranian diplomatic and legal delegation met with Omani officials in Muscat to discuss the principles governing vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the security of the strategic waterway, the sovereignty of coastal states, and adherence to international law.

 

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, who is leading the delegation in Oman, met on Sunday with Omani Foreign Minister Seyed Badr Albusaidi and delivered a verbal message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

 

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the message was conveyed within the framework of ongoing consultations and positive cooperation between the two neighboring countries and focused on the ongoing talks between Iran and the United States. Iranian officials say the negotiations are being conducted through Pakistani mediation, alongside efforts aimed at ensuring their success.

 

Following the meeting, Iranian and Omani delegations held extensive discussions on a set of principles related to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The talks stressed the importance of maintaining security, respecting the national sovereignty of the coastal states bordering the strait, and applying relevant rules of international law.

 

Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy, Oman’s Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, along with several officials from both countries, attended the meeting.

 

In recent years, the Strait of Hormuz has repeatedly emerged as a focal point of geopolitical tensions in the region. A significant portion of the world’s energy exports passes through the narrow waterway, making any developments there closely watched far beyond the Middle East.

 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that “the Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with the United States,” adding that “Iran and Oman, as the coastal states, should define a mechanism regarding the strait.”

 

He also noted that Tehran has already held several rounds of discussions with Oman on the issue and will continue consultations with other countries and relevant international organizations due to the global importance of the waterway.

 

In a post on X, Gharibabadi described his visit to Muscat as part of the ongoing positive cooperation between Tehran and Muscat across various fields, adding that the discussions also touched on the ongoing Iran-US negotiations.