Iran and Oman launch joint Hormuz committee in Muscat

Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs on Monday announced the inaugural meeting of a joint committee with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, held in Muscat to address maritime management and sovereign rights.

Joint Committee Inaugurated

Kazem Gharibabadi traveled to the Omani capital for discussions with Abdulaziz Al-Hinai, the sultanate's ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry. The Iranian diplomat posted details of the encounter on the social media platform X, noting it marked the first formal gathering of the bilateral body.

"While reviewing current issues related to the strait, we exchanged views on the future management of the strait within the framework of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the sovereign rights of coastal states," Gharibabadi said. The meeting focused on operational coordination regarding the strategic waterway.

Strategic Waterway

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital conduit for global oil shipments, connecting Persian Gulf producers to international markets. Tehran and Muscat — both coastal states along the narrow passage — have maintained cooperative relations on maritime security for decades.