Iran-Gulf Hormuz Talks Postponed as U.S. Stays Out — SkimNews
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- Iran and five of six GCC states were scheduled to meet in Oman Monday to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but Oman announced the talks were postponed just before the interview aired
- The U.S. was not invited to attend; Dania Thafer of the Gulf International Forum says the framework mirrors Article 5 of a prior U.S.-Iran MOU that fell through, with regional states and Iraq buying in
- Iran told Gulf counterparts the outcome 'depends on Washington's behavior' and described the session as a 'consultation,' sharing a proposal with four Gulf states — a face-saving path for Washington if it agrees
- Saudi Arabia's pipeline workaround — used to sell oil via the Red Sea — was attacked and is offline, while Iran-backed Houthis seized coastal areas and an island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, eliminating Gulf states' alternative export routes
- Iran views control of the Strait of Hormuz as its key leverage — Thafer says Iran considers disrupting the Strait 'more dangerous than having a nuclear weapon' — and demands the U.S. end its blockade on Iranian oil for any substantial deal
- Thafer does not expect a full agreement, noting any deal would require Washington's approval and that Iran's precondition on the oil blockade blocks rapid progress — though the talks could 'start a process'
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia's pipeline bypass is offline and Houthis now hold an island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, leaving the Strait of Hormuz as the Gulf's only viable oil export route. With Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain calling the situation 'existential,' the U.S. blockade on Iranian oil is now the single bottleneck determining whether talks produce a deal.
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