TEHRAN, Iran: Iran’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the country would meet with Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which the Islamic republic has blockaded during the Middle East war.
“This meeting is intended to promote better understanding among the countries of the region and help strengthen shared regional security,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday, state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Iran has been at war since February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes against the country.
Iran retaliated with attacks across the region and blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of world oil supplies previously flowed.
More than six months into the Middle East war, the blockade continues to drive up oil prices, which soared past $100 a barrel this week.
Oman and Iran, which both border the Strait of Hormuz, have been discussing for several weeks how the crucial waterway will be managed in the future.
Iran-Oman talks on Hormuz shipping routes
The meeting will discuss the outcome of negotiations between Tehran and Muscat on establishing safe routes for commercial shipping through the strait, the foreign ministry’s spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement carried by the state-run broadcaster IRIB.
Stating that Iran and Oman reached an understanding on temporary shipping lanes in the waterway, Baghaei added: “Iran remains committed to ensuring the security of navigation in the strait.”
The statement came as recent days witnessed heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over the Strait of Hormuz, despite the signing of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding in June that envisioned a deal to reopen the strategic waterway as a prelude to a comprehensive peace deal.
The strait was free to transit before the war, but Iran now requires vessels to obtain permission and is considering a mechanism to impose service fees.
Ships that do not comply are regularly targeted by Iranian strikes, while the United States periodically bombs the Iranian coastline to challenge the Islamic Republic’s control of the strait.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMOTO) said that four unknown projectiles hit two vessels 4 nautical miles west of Oman’s Khasab, causing a fire on one vessel and leaving the status of the second vessel unknown.
The master of another vessel reported seeing the projectiles hit the two vessels about 6 nautical miles north of his position, UKMTO said.
UKMTO WARNING 133-26
Click here to view the full product.⤵️ https://t.co/zmsI7gmPrX#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/YbuuslwEhu— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) September 10, 2026
Oil falls but on track for 8% weekly gain
Oil prices have dropped, but remain on course for a weekly gain of more than 8 percent, as attacks along Middle East shipping routes stoke concerns about prolonged supply disruptions, Reuters reported.
Brent crude futures were down $3.45, or 3.21 percent, to $104.18 a barrel as of 1132 GMT (4:32 pm PKT).
Also Read: Oil Surges To $109 Over Middle East Shipping Disruptions
US West Texas Intermediate crude has fallen by $2.96, or 2.89 percent, to $99.52 a barrel.
Meanwhile, Global oil supply and demand will fall further than previously thought this year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said, as a lack of progress in ending the Iran war delays the return of normal Middle East flows into 2027 and sends fuel prices soaring, Reuters reported.
An increase in attacks on oil tankers in Middle East shipping routes has helped send crude prices towards $110 a barrel this week for the first time since May.
But this hike is overshadowed by the surging price of fuels such as diesel, which have hit record highs.
Trump says he does not regret Iran war
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he does not regret going to war against Iran despite the impact the conflict may have on the November US midterm elections.
“I don’t believe in the word ‘regret.’ You can always question yourself a little bit,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham when asked if he regretted the Iran war due to the impact it may have on the elections.
Also Read: Trump Says He Has ‘No Regret’ Over Iran War, Vows To Do It Again
“If I had it do again, I would do exactly as I did,” Trump said.
Trump dismissed suggestions that some of his supporters were upset and demoralised about the war.
“I don’t think they’re demoralised. I think they’re very proud of the fact that I’m not letting Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
Trump reiterated his thinking that the war will end immediately after the midterm election.
“It ends right after the election,” Trump said.
