Iran reports progress in Hormuz shipping talks with Oman
12:35, 26/07/2026, SundayU: Update: 19:48, 26/07/2026, Sunday
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said deputy foreign ministers held productive talks in Tehran on operational mechanisms for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as technical consultations between the two countries continue.
Tehran talks focus on safe passage mechanisms
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Sunday that several rounds of talks between Iranian and Omani deputy foreign ministers produced progress on operational frameworks for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that maritime traffic through the strategic chokepoint remains unchanged. The discussions took place in Tehran on Friday and Saturday, Baqaei told the semi-official Fars news agency.
"The two sides exchanged views on common principles and operational mechanisms for the safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz," Baqaei said, describing the negotiations as "productive." He noted that the Omani delegation departed Tehran on Saturday evening, though technical and political consultations between the two countries are set to continue.
US demands and Iranian conditions
The talks come amid heightened security tensions in the waterway following the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on February 28. Washington has demanded that Tehran halt attacks on commercial shipping and guarantee freedom of navigation through the strait, while Iran has insisted that vessel transits be governed by a mechanism it administers along its coastline.
US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between the parties over on July 8 after renewed military escalation, though he directed the US military not to launch new strikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago, according to Axios. Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding in June that included a ceasefire following Qatari and Pakistani mediation.