Conflict & Security
Iran discusses Strait of Hormuz with Oman and Saudi Arabia amid regional lull
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed the Strait of Hormuz in separate phone calls with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Iranian state television said Tuesday.
State TV said the ministers stressed the need to strengthen cooperation and pursue joint diplomatic efforts to establish stability in the region. It said they also discussed what it called insecurity imposed on the Strait of Hormuz by aggressive actions of the United States.
The calls came after several days of relative calm in a Middle East conflict that has centred partly on control of the vital shipping route.
Iran has maintained control over the strait since the start of the Middle East war on February 28, disrupting shipping through the waterway, according to the supplied report. Recent fighting has also involved Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
An earlier AFP report said Iran and the United States had refrained from striking each other for a third consecutive day on Monday after 13 nights of renewed US strikes on Iran. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei denied that Tehran was holding direct negotiations with Washington, while US President Donald Trump said the United States was in “very deep talks with Iran” and warned that military action could resume if diplomacy failed.
Despite the pause between the United States and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said earlier that it had intercepted several drones launched by Iran-linked groups in Iraq towards oil facilities. The Houthis separately said they had launched drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of dispute. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have stopped vessels attempting to pass through the waterway in recent days, including six ships that Iranian state television said on Monday had sailed outside Iran’s designated route. Tehran had also said it discussed principles and procedures for safe passage through the strait with Oman.
Update
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls on the Strait of Hormuz with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Iranian state TV said Tuesday.
Iranian state TV said the ministers stressed cooperation and joint diplomatic efforts to establish regional stability and address insecurity in the strait, which it attributed to aggressive US actions.
The source says the last few days have seen a lull in regional hostilities.
Source note: AFP news report published on 28 July 2026 at 06:24:51 UTC.
Update
Iran and the United States held fire for a third consecutive day on Monday.
Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said it intercepted several drones launched by Iran-linked groups in Iraq and aimed at oil facilities.
Yemen's Houthi rebels said they launched drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure in response to alleged Saudi drone incursions.
Donald Trump told Axios that mediating countries had asked him to hold fire and said the United States was in very deep talks with Iran.
The Israeli military said it intercepted two drones near the Jordanian border and was investigating their launch point.
Global stock markets rallied and Brent crude fell more than four percent to $87 a barrel after the pause in strikes.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 15:56:17 UTC.
Update
Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran is not currently involved in negotiations with the United States.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said mediators may convey US messages but Iran is not engaged in talks with Washington.
Baqaei said claims that Iran requested negotiations are fabrications.
Baqaei criticised US conduct and said Iran could not be hopeful about a reasonable process while that conduct continues.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 10:35:01 UTC.
Update
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the talks with Oman are continuing.
Baqaei said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 08:18:25 UTC.
Update
Iran said the United States was not involved in talks with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 08:12:29 UTC.
Update
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said technical and political consultations with Oman were continuing.
Baqaei said there had been no change in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Axios reported that the Pentagon presented US President Donald Trump with a plan for a 14th consecutive night of strikes, but that Trump did not authorise it and chose renewed talks instead.
Axios reported that Trump ordered a hold on fire after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran for talks on a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's state television reported that Iranian armed forces stopped six vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after warnings over the previous 24 hours.
Source note: AFP news report published on 26 July 2026 at 07:21:48 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material does not say whether the calls produced any agreement or operational change in the Strait of Hormuz.
Claims about responsibility for insecurity in the strait are attributed to Iranian state TV and are disputed in the wider conflict context supplied by the candidates.
Source
AFP news report published on .