Iran, Oman hold Hormuz shipping talks
Foreign Ministry spokesman: Tehran is not holding direct talks with the United States at present
Iran says talks with Oman over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are being handled strictly as a bilateral issue between the two coastal states, with the aim of setting up a temporary arrangement to keep commercial vessels moving safely. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is not holding direct talks with the United States at present, and that the immediate focus is on maritime transit rather than broader political negotiations.
Baghaei said any understanding with Oman would be only one part of the process and would not alone be enough to reopen the strait. He described it as a necessary step, but not a sufficient one. The spokesman said the waterway has remained disrupted since military attacks and a blockade connected to the United States and Israel, and argued that no meaningful change should be expected while those pressures continue.
He added that the current contacts are limited to shipping issues, while other matters involving Iran and the United States would only be addressed later if circumstances change. Baghaei said Pakistan is serving as a mediator in Iran-US contacts, with Qatar assisting when necessary. He dismissed claims that China has become a new mediator, saying Beijing is instead helping reduce tensions because of concern over rising insecurity and US unilateral actions in the region.
Baghaei also defended Iran’s military posture, saying its responses are defensive and directed only at bases or points used to launch attacks against Iranian territory and interests. He said regional countries should avoid supporting hostile actions and warned that the continued US military presence has brought only insecurity, division and discord. He urged neighboring states to work together on a security framework built on mutual trust and cooperation so that all countries in the region can be protected.
