Gulf States and Iran Plan First High-Level Meeting Since February War to Address Strait of Hormuz Shipping

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers are scheduled to meet their Iranian counterpart on Monday in Salalah, Oman, in an Omani-initiated push for a temporary framework to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This would mark the first such gathering since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran in February 2026. The Financial Times reported the meeting aims to secure buy-in for an Iran-Oman backed deal on maritime traffic, with vessels potentially entering via Iranian waters and exiting through Omani territory. Bloomberg and other outlets confirm the plans, noting it could be the first ministerial-level contact in over six months amid ongoing disruptions to global oil flows. Iran has insisted that full reopening depends on the US lifting its naval blockade and meeting other conditions, including asset releases. Regional states seek to ease hostilities while ensuring any agreement remains temporary. Earlier Iran-Oman talks on the strait date back to at least June 2026, with recent statements from Iranian officials indicating the meeting will also involve Iraq and other littoral states. Oil prices have risen amid the tensions, with the strait effectively closed to normal commercial traffic since the conflict began.