Iran’s chief negotiator in Oman for Hormuz talks
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and top diplomat Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Monday for consultations on a new framework for managing the Strait of Hormuz, following high-stakes negotiations with US officials in Switzerland under Pakistani and Qatari mediation.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief nuclear negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Oman on Monday alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for talks on new arrangements governing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.
Qalibaf was received upon arrival by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi at the airport in Muscat, the outlet reported. The delegation traveled to Oman after participating in marathon negotiations with US representatives in Switzerland and making what Iranian media described as a “necessary stop” in Tehran to coordinate with officials.
Strait of Hormuz framework
The visit aims to establish joint consultations between Tehran and Muscat on a new operational framework for the waterway, which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Officials from both nations emphasized the importance of preserving regional security and ensuring unimpeded navigation through the strait and adjacent international waterways, according to Omani state media.
Oman’s official news agency said the two sides stressed “the importance of using the current diplomatic moment to support peace efforts and strengthen de-escalation and stability, in line with international law and principles of good neighborliness.” The statement also emphasized preserving regional security and ensuring safe passage for commercial traffic through the vital chokepoint and adjacent sea lanes.
US negotiations backdrop
The Muscat trip comes one day after Qalibaf and Araghchi participated in 18 hours of negotiations with US representatives in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistani and Qatari officials. The discussions focused on implementing a recently signed memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, IRIB reported.
Qalibaf is expected to hold an audience with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq during the visit to discuss bilateral cooperation and broader regional coordination, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. The meeting is scheduled to cap a hectic 48-hour diplomatic shuttle that has taken the Iranian delegation from European mediation talks to the Gulf sultanate.
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