Iran said a planned high-level multilateral meeting with Persian Gulf states in Oman has been postponed, with Tehran and Muscat offering different explanations for the delay. Oman’s foreign minister said the meeting was pushed back to seek broader consensus among participants. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, however, said Saudi Arabia had asked for the postponement because of the situation in Yemen.
The meeting had been set to become the highest-level multilateral diplomatic contact between Iran and its Gulf neighbors since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war. Its delay comes as regional tensions around key energy corridors continue to build. Houthi forces have recently captured several major cities along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and could move toward greater control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. At the same time, Iran-aligned militias in Iraq carried out drone attacks that led to the shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline.
With the Strait of Hormuz largely obstructed and fresh risks emerging around Bab el-Mandeb, export routes for Gulf oil are facing pressure on two fronts. Brent crude briefly rose to $110 a barrel last Friday, while the average U.S. gasoline price climbed to $4.30 a gallon from $2.98 at the start of the war. Iran denied involvement in the attack on the Saudi pipeline and said it had reached an agreement with Oman on shipping routes through Hormuz, with details still under discussion.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Sept. 14 that a planned high-level multilateral meeting between Iran and Persian Gulf states in Oman has been postponed.
Oman’s foreign minister said the delay was intended to allow more time to seek consensus among the parties. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson gave a different explanation, saying Saudi Arabia had requested that the meeting be pushed back because of the 「situation in Yemen」.
The gathering had been expected to mark the highest-level multilateral diplomatic contact between Iran and its Gulf neighbors since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war.
The postponement comes as pressure builds across the region’s energy transit routes. Houthi forces have recently taken several major cities along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and could tighten control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In Iraq, militias with close ties to Iran launched drone attacks that resulted in the shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline.
With the Strait of Hormuz largely obstructed and new risks emerging around Bab el-Mandeb, Gulf oil export routes are under strain from both directions. Brent crude briefly climbed to $110 a barrel last Friday. Average U.S. gasoline prices also rose to $4.30 a gallon, up from $2.98 when the war began.
Middle East experts said Gulf states are accelerating efforts to find a diplomatic outlet as Iran and its proxies expand their influence, while concerns are also growing over whether the United States can help contain the situation.
Iran denied involvement in the attack on the Saudi oil pipeline. Tehran also said it had reached an agreement with Oman on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, and that both sides are discussing how to announce the arrangement.
This article was originally published by Bit.Fan. For more cryptocurrency news and market insights, visit www.bit.fan. Disclaimer:
The market information, project data, and third-party content displayed on this platform are for industry information sharing only and do not constitute any form of investment advice or return commitment.
Cryptocurrency trading carries high risks. Users should fully assess their risk tolerance and make independent decisions. All profits, losses, and legal responsibilities are borne by the users themselves.
