Strait of Hormuz Interim Deal Delayed After Iran-Arab Summit Falls Through

An attempt to finalize an agreement between Iran and Oman aimed at restoring traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been delayed due to a lack of regional consensus regarding the waterway's future.

Officials representing Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—excluding objecting Bahrain—had planned to convene in Salalah, Oman, on Monday to discuss newly proposed temporary routes in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and the United States.

On Sunday evening, regional officials announced the postponement of the gathering without providing a new date. While stakeholders did not directly link the delay to recent Houthi and Iraqi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed the postponement to Saudi objections.

US media outlets Axios and CNN reported that Saudi Arabia submitted amendments to the Iran-Oman proposal over concerns that the proposed wording would establish an unacceptable new status quo for Riyadh. This development follows Saudi Arabia's decision to shut down its critical East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks originating from Iraq. US President Donald Trump stated that these attacks were likely conducted at Tehran's behest.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has faced continued attacks from the Houthis, who recently took control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Shortly after the Salalah meeting was postponed, Saudi civil defence issued alerts for Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. The Houthis claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles and drones at military facilities in Khamis Mushait in retaliation for air strikes across Yemen.

Regarding future steps, Iran stated it will engage with the US concerning the Strait of Hormuz and ending the conflict only if Washington takes tangible steps to lift its naval blockade and return to the June memorandum of understanding. Despite disruptions, Iran signaled its intention to pursue the bilateral agreement with Oman.

“In consultation with Oman, in the next step, we will make a decision on how to announce or register the agreement,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated during a weekly news conference.

Ali Vaez, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that Tehran aims to leverage the Strait of Hormuz for regional legitimacy and to pressure the US. Meanwhile, GCC states are seeking to keep ships moving to protect their economies, though analysts note Washington is unlikely to lift the blockade easily.

The Omani-Iranian proposal envisions temporary entry and exit routes for commercial vessels. The inbound corridor reportedly passes through Iranian waters, while the outbound corridor primarily utilizes Omani waters alongside parts of Iranian territory. The plan could also involve voluntary tolls to fund navigation, environmental protection, and search-and-rescue operations.

Bahrain declined to participate in the forum, with the Tasnim news outlet claiming that Israel pushed Bahrain to refuse involvement.

In Yemen, the Houthis—officially known as Ansar Allah—gained control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea following an offensive against government forces. Thomas Juneau, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, noted that these advances provide Iran with an important new bargaining chip for future negotiations with the United States.