Egypt, Iran, and Oman Agree to Protect Strait of Hormuz

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate telephone conversations with his counterparts from Iran and Oman on Saturday to discuss efforts to ease regional tensions and maintain freedom of navigation. According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelatty spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi as part of ongoing consultations on regional developments and efforts to restore security and stability. The talks focused on de-escalation, with Abdelatty stressing the need for an immediate halt to all military actions and escalation. He also prioritised political and diplomatic solutions to defuse tensions and prevent the expansion of conflict, which could harm the region’s people. Abdelatty said such efforts would help strengthen regional security and stability while protecting communities from further escalation and its consequences. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, describing them as cornerstones of regional security and stability, and vital for protecting international trade and global supply chains. Abdelatty stressed the need to avoid any measures that could threaten the security of maritime routes or endanger shipping, stating that such steps are necessary to protect the interests of regional countries and the global economy. The statement came after an Omani diplomatic delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday to discuss navigation mechanisms in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional tensions reignited after US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire deal with Iran void, triggering exchanges of attacks between the two countries that disrupted shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. The maritime escalation further intensified after Yemen’s Houthi group banned Saudi-affiliated shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, prompting retaliatory strikes from the Saudi-led coalition.