Iran-Oman talks on the Strait of Hormuz end in Muscat without a final deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat on Saturday, July 18, 2026, to discuss mechanisms for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz under the Iran-US memorandum of understanding. The meeting ended without a final agreement, and both sides said talks would continue at technical and political levels.

According to CNN, Oman has proposed managing traffic in the strait via two separately controlled routes, while Tehran prefers a single, joint Iran-Oman management, and there was no sign of progress. Iranian officials also accused the United States of exerting "overt and covert pressure" on Oman. The absence of a safe-passage deal, with vessel traffic through the strait at multi-week lows, keeps war-risk premiums for tankers and oil prices elevated; Brent stayed above $85 a barrel on Friday.