Qatari PM meets with top officials in Oman to advance Gulf–Iran talks on Hormuz management
Oman has established a temporary navigation corridor to clear the shipping backlog in the Strait of Hormuz
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani visited Muscat on 24 June for talks with Omani officials to pave the way for negotiations among Iran, Iraq, and Gulf Arab states on the future management of the Strait of Hormuz.
A diplomat briefed on the talks told Reuters that the discussions are intended to operationalize a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 15 June – a provision of the agreement that mandates that Iran hold separate, localized talks with Oman, Iraq, and the Gulf Arab states.
Gulf states are expected to push for the removal of transit fees, while Iran may propose environmental, navigation, and security-related charges, according to the same briefing.
The initiative also builds toward broader regional talks, with possible discussions in Riyadh involving Iran, Gulf Arab states, and other regional actors.
This comes as Oman announced the establishment of a temporary maritime shipping corridor for ships seeking transit through the vital Strait of Hormuz, launched in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in close coordination with Iran.
“Vessels wishing to pass through would need to coordinate with the IMO and Omani authorities,” Omani state media reported, adding that the temporary corridor is intended to maintain global trade flows without the imposition of transit fees.
Oman maintains that this measure reflects its own historical guardianship of the Strait of Hormuz, alongside its strict commitment to international laws ensuring free navigation.
This emergency route launches as global agencies begin a phased plan to facilitate the movement of the hundreds of ships and thousands of seafarers stranded by the recent naval double blockade imposed during the US–Israeli war on Iran.
The Oman corridor serves as an immediate fix to safely pass stranded ships through the strait while the longer-term governance arrangements are being deliberated between Tehran and Muscat.
Iran and Oman agreed on 23 June to establish a joint committee to oversee shipping management in the Strait of Hormuz following talks in Muscat between Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and an Iranian delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
In a joint statement, the two sides reaffirmed that, as the states bordering the strait, they remain committed to ensuring safe passage in accordance with international law while maintaining their sovereign rights over their territorial waters.
The committee will coordinate maritime services and shipping costs while consulting other regional coastal partners.
The statement also stressed that all arrangements relating to the Strait of Hormuz must fully respect the sovereignty of Iran and Oman. Both sides renewed their commitment to keeping the waterway open and secure for international navigation under their supervision.