Iran and Oman have held the inaugural meeting of a newly established joint committee focused on the management and coordination of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed on Monday that the first session of the bilateral committee took place in the Omani capital, Muscat.

The meeting brought together Iranian officials and Oman’s Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry, Abdulaziz Al-Hinai, marking what Gharibabadi described as the first formal gathering of the joint mechanism.

According to Gharibabadi, discussions centered on current issues related to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as well as future frameworks for its administration.

The talks also addressed operational coordination in the vital waterway, which handles a significant portion of global energy shipments and remains a key point of regional security concern.

The Iranian diplomat said both sides exchanged views on future management arrangements within the framework of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, while also emphasizing the sovereign rights of coastal states in the region.

The establishment of the committee reflects ongoing efforts by Tehran and Muscat to deepen cooperation on regional maritime security and to manage strategic waterways through bilateral dialogue.

Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that regional security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz should be handled by littoral states, without external interference.

Oman, which has historically played a mediating role in regional disputes, has often facilitated dialogue between Iran and other international actors on security and diplomatic issues.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes, through which a significant share of global oil and gas exports passes daily.

Any developments affecting its stability or governance are closely monitored internationally due to their potential impact on global energy markets and regional security dynamics.

The establishment of the joint committee is seen as part of broader efforts to reduce tensions and improve coordination over navigation and maritime safety in the strategic waterway. (ILKHA)