Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced the postponement of a regional meeting with Iran, initially scheduled for tomorrow in the coastal city of Salalah, citing a desire to "ensure consensus."
He emphasized, "We reaffirm our commitment to enhancing dialogue to support stability and sustainable cooperation in the region."
Previously, Iranian state media reported that the meeting was intended to boost security cooperation in the Middle East.
The Iranian news agency (IRNA) earlier today described the meeting as "the first step towards creating a regional framework for security cooperation" in the Gulf. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, stated that the meeting would form "a foundational pillar for ensuring stability and security," according to a report by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).
On Saturday, Bahrain announced it would not participate in the meeting, citing Iranian attacks.
Iran has been involved in conflict since February 28, following US and Israeli strikes that resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In response, Iran launched attacks across the region and closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply previously passed. Tehran seeks to formalize its control over the strait, including imposing "service charges" on transiting ships, engaging in negotiations with Oman, as the strait lies within both countries' territorial waters.
Before the conflict, the strait was open to all nations.
Additionally, CNN reports suggest that "Oman's proposal regarding the Strait of Hormuz includes voluntary payments for navigational and environmental safety, after rejecting mandatory Iranian fees."
US President Donald Trump linked the conclusion of the war with Iran to the midterm elections, suggesting that the conflict might end before or just after the elections, placing the war's timeline within a political framework without disclosing specific plans to end it.
Trump stated that "the war with Iran will probably end before or shortly after the midterm elections," asserting that the US will ultimately exit the conflict, as focus shifts from military confrontation to negotiations.
Trump claimed that Iran is eager to make a deal with the United States, noting that they want to reach an agreement "at any cost." However, he emphasized that he would not agree to a deal he perceives as detrimental to Washington. He reiterated his stance on Iran’s nuclear program, insisting that Tehran will not acquire a nuclear weapon and that the US will prevent this. He did not clarify the potential terms of an agreement or whether direct or indirect talks are underway in preparation for negotiations.