Oman says Hormuz talks with Iran ‘positive’ as shipping attacks continue

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Oman said Saturday that negotiations with Iran over the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz were proceeding in a “positive and constructive” atmosphere, while warning against repeated attacks on commercial shipping as Tehran continued to enforce its blockade of the vital waterway.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as “repeated attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” without directly attributing responsibility to Iran.

The ministry said ongoing negotiations over navigation arrangements in the strait were making progress and urged all sides to avoid actions that could jeopardize the talks.

The warning came after a commercial vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman on Saturday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

“A verified source has reported that a vessel was struck by an unknown projectile which caused a fire that has been extinguished,” UKMTO said. It added that there was no reported environmental impact and that the vessel and its crew were safe.

The incident marked another security concern in a waterway that has become a major flashpoint amid the escalating confrontation between Iran and the United States.

Iran has insisted that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to commercial maritime traffic until Washington meets a series of demands, including an end to military operations against Iran, the lifting of sanctions and the withdrawal of US military forces from the region.

Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Saturday that the strait would not be reopened until the United States “corrects its behavior” toward Tehran.

Iranian officials have also rejected suggestions that the reopening of Hormuz is directly linked to Tehran’s negotiations with Oman, saying the waterway is subject to separate conditions that Washington must accept.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway poses risks to global energy supplies and international trade.

Oman has maintained a role as an intermediary between Iran and other parties during periods of heightened regional tensions. Its latest call for restraint underscores concerns that further attacks on commercial vessels could undermine diplomatic efforts to establish arrangements for the safe passage of shipping through Hormuz.