DOHA: Talks between Iran and Oman on arrangements for shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz have reached an advanced stage, Qatar said on Tuesday, as Pakistan and Qatar intensified diplomatic efforts to revive talks between Tehran and Washington to permanently end the conflict.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said the negotiations had reached a “critical juncture” and expressed hope that the waterway would reopen to commercial shipping as soon as possible.
“As mediators, we want the Strait of Hormuz reopened as soon as possible,” Ansari said at a press conference.
He said Doha supported all efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region and was closely following the negotiations between Iran and Oman.
Oman-Iran talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz are at a critical stage, with positive signals from both sides, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari says. pic.twitter.com/u3xfal4hyU
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) August 11, 2026
The talks are focused on legal and technical arrangements for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic has been disrupted following the military conflict between Iran and the United States.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister arrives in Tehran
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi travelled to Tehran on Tuesday for talks with Iranian officials, Al Arabiya and Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported, as Islamabad continues efforts to revive negotiations between Iran and the United States.
🔴 BREAKING: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has arrived in Tehran, Iran’s Mehr news agency reports. pic.twitter.com/JYQCBSYIby
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) August 11, 2026
Naqvi’s visit was part of Pakistan’s mediation efforts to restart talks between Tehran and Washington, Al Arabiya English reported while citing sources.
Iran’s official IRNA news agency, citing a diplomatic source, said Naqvi had departed Islamabad for Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials on bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest.
According to a diplomatic source speaking with IRNA, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Pakistan's Minister of Interior, set off for Tehran hours earlier for discussions with Iranian officials. pic.twitter.com/FmI4G8OeVb
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) August 11, 2026
Naqvi would hold important meetings with the Iranian leadership during his visit, Reuters reported.
Naqvi has been a key member of Pakistan’s mediation team. The Tehran visit is his sixth trip to Iran since the Middle East conflict began.
The visit comes about a month after Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni travelled to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani leadership.
Pakistan and Qatar are mediating between Iran and the United States in efforts to end the conflict and restore a diplomatic process.
US, Iran continue indirect talks
Iran said on Monday that Tehran and Washington continued to exchange messages through intermediaries, but stressed that this did not amount to direct negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said messages were being exchanged on current issues through mediators.
“Of course, it is natural to exchange messages through mediators on current issues, but what the next step will be depends on the circumstances,” Baqaei said, according to IRNA.
He added that Iran was currently focused on negotiations with Oman over arrangements for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made a similar distinction on Sunday, saying Tehran and Washington were exchanging messages rather than conducting negotiations.
“This is not called ‘negotiation’, it’s an ‘exchange of messages’,” Araghchi said.
Baqaei said Pakistan and Qatar were continuing their mediation efforts to create conditions for the resumption of formal negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Iran-Oman talks on Hormuz
Iran and Oman are negotiating arrangements for safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baqaei said on Monday that the discussions were proceeding in a “very smooth and constructive manner”, according to IRNA.
He said the two sides had already reached an understanding on a traffic map, while technical issues related to a joint statement were still under discussion.
The talks are also expected to establish mechanisms for monitoring the safe passage of ships, co-operation on environmental issues, provision of maritime services and efforts to combat crime, Baqaei said.
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He added that maritime services would normally require compensation.
Baqaei said the issue of how any transit fees would be divided between Iran and Oman was not currently under discussion.
He also stressed that the talks over a safe shipping route were separate from the broader question of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan and Qatar intensify mediation
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator to end the conflict between Iran and the United States.
Baqaei said on Monday that Pakistan was playing a central role in mediation between Tehran and Washington.
He also said invitations extended by Pakistan to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to visit Islamabad would be considered when the time was right.
“The relationship between Iran and Pakistan is a very important one,” Baqaei said, describing such visits as a natural part of the close relationship between the two neighbours.
Pakistan has sought to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States after helping secure a ceasefire on April 8 and hosting high-level talks between the two sides in Islamabad on April 12 and 13.
Under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, Iran and the United States committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
Pakistan and Qatar later co-mediated the first round of high-level talks in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21. The meeting was attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Following the meeting, Pakistan and Qatar said significant progress had been made in diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
