US, UAE discuss Strait of Hormuz amid Iran-Oman talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz by telephone, amid a possible Iran-Oman agreement on shipping in the waters, the US State Department said.

“The two discussed a range of regional security issues, including Lebanon, as well as continued coordination between the US and UAE to hold Iran and its proxy groups designated as terrorist organisations accountable for ongoing attacks. Secretary Rubio stressed the importance of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz,” said US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

No further information was provided about the call.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei previously said that Iran and Oman had reached an agreement on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump, when asked about the Muscat-Tehran talks regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz, stated that the US would strike Oman if the country “obstructed”.