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Oman announced the postponement of a regional meeting with Iran and Gulf states that had been set for September 14, 2026, in Salalah to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz. The Omani news agency ONA stated that the decision sought to create conditions for constructive dialogue while Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi posted on X that the step would promote consensus. “We remain committed to promoting dialogue that contributes to stability and sustainable cooperation in our region” Badr Al Busaidi added in his statement.
Iran had revealed plans for the gathering and indicated that Gulf countries along with Iraq would attend though no Gulf nation provided full confirmation in advance and Bahrain declared it would not take part. Iranian officials told Reuters that the delay came at the request of certain regional countries through a joint decision with Oman and that the two sides would now coordinate on a new timing. L’Orient Today reported these developments as part of its live coverage of the diplomatic and military updates.
The Strait of Hormuz has been at the center of a 2026 conflict between the United States and Iran that led to its effective closure for months. International Energy Agency data shows that around 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade normally transits the waterway with the bulk heading to Asian markets. A Congressional Research Service report updated in July 2026 detailed how Iranian efforts to control shipping routes through attacks on noncompliant vessels had contributed to the disruptions following U.S. and Israeli military operations earlier that year.
News of the postponement sent Brent crude prices up 3.5 percent to more than 108 dollars a barrel in early Asian trading The Irish Times reported. Saudi Arabia finds itself particularly exposed as the world’s top oil exporter with Houthi maritime actions compounding the Hormuz blockade by controlling the Bab el-Mandeb strait as well. The pro-Iranian group announced the blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and seized the strategic passage last week according to L’Orient Today.
The Houthis separately claimed that Saudi warplanes conducted around 50 airstrikes across six Yemeni provinces on Sunday with a concentration in the north. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the F-15 jets had taken off from King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait and described the bombardment as aggression. This followed a Houthi-claimed attack on a Saudi military base and came as Saudi media showed damage from cross-border strikes in Jazan province.
A U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding reached in June 2026 had aimed to restore flows through the strait but disputes over its interpretation have persisted The Soufan Center analysis from June 2026 found. Iranian authorities have asserted long-term management rights under the agreement while continuing to target vessels that deviate from their designated routes. Oman has positioned itself as a mediator in these tensions and expressed ongoing dedication to facilitating talks that could ease the situation for global energy markets.
