Iran says Oman meeting canceled at Saudi Arabia’s request

Iran said on Monday that a planned meeting in Oman involving foreign ministers from Gulf countries and Tehran was canceled at Saudi Arabia’s request, Anadolu reports.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told a press briefing that Riyadh requested the meeting should not take place for the time being.

“The report that Saudi Arabia requested that the meeting not be held for now is correct,” Baqaei said, according to state news agency IRNA.

He rejected attempts to link Iran to recent developments between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, saying Yemen’s problems have “long-standing roots.”

Baqaei also categorically denied US claims that Iran was involved in an attack on a Saudi oil pipeline from Iraqi territory, accusing Washington of seeking to deepen divisions among regional countries.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.

Baqaei said the planned meeting was expected to provide an opportunity for Iran and Oman to present an understanding reached after weeks of negotiations concerning maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz and the two countries’ roles as coastal states.

He said Tehran had expected regional countries to “seize the opportunity” and use the meeting to discuss creating a secure region without interference from outside actors.

The spokesman said the Iran-Oman understanding has been finalized despite the cancellation of the meeting.

“We will decide, in consultation with Oman, on the next step and how to announce or register this understanding,” he added.

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Baqaei said security in the Strait of Hormuz concerns Iran and Oman as the two coastal states, while blaming current insecurity in the waterway on US and Israeli actions.

He accused the US of undermining maritime security by attacking an Iranian vessel near Hengam Island, saying one Iranian was killed and several others, including two Pakistani nationals, were injured.

Iran and Oman have been holding talks on a provisional arrangement to manage shipping through the waterway since a June memorandum of understanding agreed between Washington and Tehran to end the war that began in February collapsed.

The US and Iran had agreed to extend an April ceasefire and gradually allow shipping through the strait to return to its prewar levels while they held talks on a final settlement.

On Sunday, Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, announced that “in the interests of consensus the regional meeting set for tomorrow in Salalah has been postponed.”

“We remain committed to fostering dialogue that supports stability and lasting cooperation in our region,” he said.

On tensions with the US, Baqaei said Washington must halt “illegal and interventionist” actions, including its maritime blockade and economic pressure, warning that Iran would continue responding if such measures persist.

He dismissed claims about possible nuclear activity at Kuh-e Kolang (Pickaxe Mountain) as “media hype,” saying Iran fulfilled its safeguards obligations toward the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Asked about reports that Iran had seized a US submarine, Baqaei said: “It was not seized; it was taken as war booty, and war booty is lawful.”

On regional diplomacy, he welcomed China’s efforts to support regional stability but said Iran’s problem with the US was not a lack of mediators, but what he called Washington’s lack of genuine political will for diplomacy.

Baqaei also described relations with Türkiye as broader than exchanging messages between Iran and other parties, saying Tehran and Ankara share concerns over Israeli actions across the region.

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