Tehran: Officials from Iran and Qatar met on Thursday in Tehran to discuss the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as a US naval blockade continues to restrict oil supplies to Iran amid a domestic shortfall. According to France24.com, the meetings followed a week of intense diplomacy in Iran involving separate discussions with officials from Oman and Pakistan, who are seeking ways to end the ongoing conflict and reopen the crucial shipping lane of Hormuz.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hosted Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also the country's prime minister. The discussions aimed to address the de-escalation efforts and explore a proposed framework for Hormuz between Iran and Oman. The Qatari foreign ministry highlighted the importance of respecting the sovereignty of neighboring states and ensuring freedom of navigation through dialogue.
The conference took place as the United States threatened to impose wider secondary sanctions on countries, banks, and companies that continue to engage with Iran, part of its campaign of "economic asphyxiation." Despite previous successes in brokering agreements, such as the April ceasefire and June deal between Iran and the United States, those agreements have since collapsed.
Since the conflict with the United States began on February 28, Iran has maintained control over Hormuz, a critical global energy conduit, while the US enforces a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports. The blockade has exacerbated Iran's fuel shortage, with Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah acknowledging the inability to import enough petrol to meet domestic needs due to the blockade.
Queues at petrol stations have become a common sight in Iran, with officials contemplating reviewing petrol quotas. Iran, which heavily subsidizes petrol, faces political sensitivity around changes to pricing. As the US continues its efforts to stifle Iran's economy, Iranian officials have criticized these measures as ineffective, with top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expressing confidence in overcoming economic challenges.
Talks with Oman over a framework agreement for Hormuz have been ongoing for weeks. The agreement aims to establish a "temporary corridor" for shipping and address clearing mines reportedly laid during the conflict. Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced an agreement with Oman on managing the waterway's resources.
Nonetheless, Tehran insists that the strait will remain closed unless the US meets its demands, including lifting the naval blockade, unfreezing Iranian assets, and removing oil sanctions. Iranian forces have required vessels to seek permission to pass through the waterway and have targeted non-compliant ships. Additionally, Iran has attempted to impose service fees on ships navigating the strait, a move opposed by Washington and regional countries.
This week, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an incident involving an "unknown projectile" striking a tanker in Hormuz, which resulted in a fire that was subsequently extinguished.