Oman Pushes for Diplomacy to Ensure Freedom of Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, on Sunday (26/4) evening, called for diplomatic efforts to ensure sustainable freedom of navigation amid shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, following the recent joint attack by the United States (US) and Israel on Iran.

Badr Albusaidi said he had held talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and described the discussion as “good”.

“As coastal states, we recognise our shared responsibility to the international community as well as the urgent humanitarian need to free the seafarers who have been detained for too long,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

“A great deal of diplomacy and practical solutions are needed to ensure sustainable freedom of navigation,” he added.

Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday (25/4) from Islamabad to hold talks with Omani officials amid Pakistan’s mediation efforts to reach an agreement between Iran and the US to end their conflict.

After the visit to Oman, the Iranian foreign minister returned to Pakistan on Sunday to hold talks with local officials regarding the possibility of a second round of negotiations with Washington. He then departed from Islamabad to Moscow to hold talks with Russian officials.

Iran and the US held talks in Islamabad two weeks ago, but failed to reach an agreement to end their conflict.

The negotiations took place after Pakistan mediated a two-week ceasefire on 8 April, which was later extended by US President Donald Trump.

Although efforts to hold the next round of talks are still ongoing, a number of major unresolved issues are said to include the Strait of Hormuz, the US blockade of Iranian ports, and uranium enriched by Iran.