Iran blames US ‘overt and covert pressures’ on Oman for failure of Hormuz shipping talks

Iran on Monday said it had sought to establish a new mechanism to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during talks held in Oman over the weekend, but accused the US of preventing an agreement from being reached.

The remarks came amid a sharp escalation in regional tensions, following a second consecutive night of US military strikes across Iran and retaliatory Iranian attacks on US military facilities in several Gulf countries.

According to CNN, speaking to reporters, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the discussions in Oman had focused exclusively on arrangements for navigation through the strategically important waterway.

“Our effort was to reach a mechanism, in consultation with Oman, to ensure the safe passage of ships,” CNN quoted Baghaei as saying, but “this was not achieved due to the overt and covert pressures of the United States on Oman.”

More from World

Baghaei reiterated Tehran’s position that it remains committed to securing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy and shipping corridors, while accusing Washington of undermining regional stability.

Islamabad pact in crisis

Iran also declared that its Islamabad agreement with the US was now in “full crisis mode,” accusing Washington of violating the terms of a 14-point memorandum as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz deepened.

According to Baghaei, the US had effectively “mutilated” the memorandum, and he rejected suggestions that Tehran was responsible for the breakdown in commitments.

“So long as Washington ‘continues to violate its commitments, the Islamic Republic of Iran will likewise refrain from fulfilling the obligations it has undertaken,’” Baghaei said.

He added that Iran, as a coastal state bordering the strait, has a legitimate role in safeguarding the waterway.

“As a coastal state, Iran has ‘both the right and the responsibility to take the necessary measures to safeguard our security and national interests,’” Baghaei said.

The Iranian spokesman also dismissed US efforts to escort commercial shipping in the region, arguing that such measures contribute to tensions rather than reducing them.

“US ‘claims about escorting commercial vessels are themselves evidence of Washington’s determination to perpetuate insecurity in the region,’” he added.

Iran working with mediators

Earlier in the day, Iran said it is working with mediators Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman to prevent any further escalation in the ongoing war.

“The role of the mediators is to continue their efforts to prevent an escalation of tensions,” AFP quoted Baqaei as saying.

The latest dispute highlights deep divisions between Tehran and Washington over control and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has consistently maintained that it should play a central role in regulating traffic through the narrow passage, while the US has demanded unrestricted freedom of navigation and encouraged commercial vessels to use routes closer to Oman's coastline.

The tensions intensified over the weekend after an Indian container ship was hit by a drone off the coast of Oman. According to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, the vessel had been travelling through the strait using an unapproved route and was “struck” by a warning shot before being halted.

The incident further inflamed the crisis and was followed by fresh US military strikes on Iran on Saturday and Sunday night, raising concerns about the security of commercial shipping and the risk of a broader regional confrontation.

With inputs from agencies