Iran and other Persian Gulf littoral states are set to meet in Oman to discuss regional issues, including a Tehran-Muscat deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a press briefing on Friday, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that foreign ministers from Iran, Iraq, and other littoral states of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman are scheduled to take part in the meeting in Oman on Monday.
He stated that the meeting would address issues concerning the region, including the outcome of negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the designation of safe routes for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghaei expressed hope that the gathering would pave the way for enhanced mutual understanding among regional countries and contribute to strengthening shared regional security.
The spokesperson also recalled the understanding reached between Iran and Oman regarding temporary shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers itself committed to efforts to ensure the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, he said, the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed as long as the aggressive actions and illegal interventions by the United States, including the naval blockade and economic warfare, persist.
Houthis say navigation safe except for Saudi vessels, vow further escalation
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed Friday that maritime navigation remains secure for all commercial entities, excluding Saudi vessels which face an ongoing blockade.
“Maritime navigation is safe for all companies except Saudi ships, which have already been banned,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Friday evening.
The Yemeni armed forces have affirmed that maritime navigation is safe for all shipping companies except for Saudi ships, which are subject to a previously announced ban.
Military spokesperson Saree said Yemeni armed forces vowed to intensify operations until the “cessation of aggression and the lifting of the siege on our dear people.”
Iran-aligned Houthis vowed “escalation for escalation” in the confrontation with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia closes East-West pipeline after attacks in Riyadh, Madinah
The developments are likely to deepen the Middle East war’s impact on international commerce, as Saudi Arabia shut down an oil pipeline following attacks, and after months of Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia shut the East-West pipeline after multiple attacks in Riyadh and Madinah injured several people, calling the closure a precautionary measure.
Saudi Arabia’s ministry of energy said Friday that it had shut down the pipeline after it was attacked the day before. The statement did not specify who carried out the attacks and called the shutdown “a precautionary measure.”
“An official source at the Ministry of Energy stated that the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions was subjected to multiple attacks on the morning of Thursday, 10 September 2026,” it read. “The pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure. The attacks resulted in a number of injuries, and medical care was provided to those affected.
“The source said emergency and specialised technical teams responded immediately following the attacks, taking the necessary measures to secure the pipeline and assess its safety in line with approved safety procedures and emergency response plans, in coordination with the relevant authorities.”
