Muscat – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman on Saturday for talks on the Strait of Hormuz, as a fragile regional ceasefire hangs in the balance.

The talks in Muscat come amid a cautious calm in the region, days after renewed fighting between Iran and the US pushed an interim agreement aimed at ending the war to the brink of collapse.

Araghchi will discuss ‘establishing appropriate mechanisms for the safe transit of ships through the shared waters’, said Iranian state media. The visit follows prior consultations between the neighbouring countries on navigation through the strategic waterway, held in line with an interim agreement between Iran and the US, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim ⁠news agency added.

Attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz last week, blamed on Tehran, had triggered US strikes and sanctions in response, with both sides trading accusations of violating the agreement.

Oman reaffirms freedom of maritime navigation at IMO

Oman reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of maritime navigation in accordance with the principles of international law during the 137th session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London on Friday.

In a statement, H E Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Undersecretary of Transport at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to the security and safety of international sea lanes, the protection of lives and the uninterrupted flow of global trade.

The Omani delegation also met Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of IMO.

During the meeting they discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and ongoing coordination between Oman and the organisation in the fields of maritime security and safety, marine environmental protection and enhanced response and coordination in addressing maritime challenges.