Gulf Meeting on New Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route Postponed Indefinitely
A regional foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for Monday in Salalah, Oman, to discuss a proposed new safe maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed indefinitely as efforts to reach a regional consensus stalled.
Oman announced the postponement late Sunday, saying the meeting would be delayed in order to reach greater consensus among the countries involved. The talks were expected to bring together Iran, Iraq and Gulf states to discuss arrangements for commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway.
Bahrain had already announced that it would not participate in the proposed meeting, citing the lack of restored diplomatic relations with Iran.
The setback raises further uncertainty over efforts by Iran and Oman to establish a temporary maritime corridor aimed at reducing risks to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.