A planned meeting between Iran and Persian Gulf states in Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed at the request of some regional countries. Oman said the delay was made to preserve regional consensus, while Iran described it as a joint decision with Muscat.
The postponement followed an attack on a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly killing one person and injuring four. UKMTO separately reported that a vessel was struck by a projectile and caught fire, although it was unclear whether the incidents were the same.
Oman has been mediating efforts to manage navigation through the Strait, including a proposed joint mechanism for Iran and Oman to share responsibility for the waterway. Talks have so far failed to reach a breakthrough, with Iran rejecting voluntary shipping fees and insisting on compulsory payments.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major strategic issue because it carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments before the war. Meanwhile, fighting has also intensified in Yemen, where government forces are attempting to retake al-Makha from the Houthis.