Iran, Gulf States to Hold First Ministerial-Level Meeting on Strait of Hormuz Passage on the 14th

[Financial News] Iran and Gulf states will hold their first ministerial-level meeting in Salalah, Oman, on the 14th to seek a solution to the issue of passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Financial Times (FT) of the United Kingdom on the 11th, the meeting will bring together the foreign ministers of Iran and the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at Oman’s initiative. It will be the first time senior officials from both sides have gathered since the war with Iran broke out in February. As efforts to resume passage through the strait have stalled despite U.S. military and economic pressure, oil-producing countries suffering from damage to crude oil exports and economic losses have taken the initiative to engage Iran directly.
However, Iran has demanded the lifting of the U.S. maritime blockade and permission to access frozen assets as conditions for a temporary passage agreement. Some analysts therefore say the meeting could remain largely symbolic unless Washington changes its position.
Nevertheless, the two sides plan to focus on finding a breakthrough to secure vessel passage, including a proposal for ships to use Iranian territorial waters when entering the Gulf and Omani territorial waters when departing.
With the Middle East remaining tense amid threats from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea despite mediation efforts by Qatar, Oman and others, attention is focused on whether the meeting can ease pressure on the gridlocked global energy shipping routes.
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter