Iranian and Middle East diplomats convened in Oman on Saturday for crisis talks aimed at addressing a U.S. demand for a public pledge from Tehran to maintain open passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The discussions also reportedly involved the potential establishment of a new travel route along the critical maritime chokepoint.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi in Muscat to discuss "safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," according to Iranian state media. Top U.S. officials were reportedly not involved in these negotiations.
Qatar, which has previously acted as a mediator between Iran and the U.S., is participating in the discussions. A reported proposal under consideration is the creation of a "median lane" through the strait, which could represent a compromise, although its potential to satisfy the Trump administration remains uncertain. The U.S. favors a southern route along the Omani coast, while Iran advocates for vessels to navigate closer to its coastline in areas it can control.
The U.S. has demanded that Iran issue a public statement acknowledging the waterway's openness and pledging not to target ships, following a series of attacks attributed to Iran in the strait. "They’re either going to give us that statement, or we’re not going to have a good outcome," a U.S. official stated Friday.
However, Iran has signaled defiance, threatening to withdraw from negotiations. Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated, "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," referencing a Memorandum of Understanding reached between the countries last month.