Iran says will discuss Strait of Hormuz with Gulf states on Monday

Iran's Foreign Ministry has announced that the country will meet with Gulf states in Oman on Monday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting is intended to promote better understanding among the countries of the region and help strengthen shared regional security. Iraq and coastal Gulf nations are expected to participate. Iran remains committed to ensuring the security of navigation in the strait. The country has been discussing how to manage the future of the strategic waterway with Oman for several weeks. Since the United States-Israeli strikes on Iran began at the end of February, the strait has been disrupted and blocked by Tehran. The ongoing blockade has caused oil costs to rise, with prices surpassing $100 a barrel earlier this week. Iran is giving the Strait of Hormuz talks a wider political spectrum by inviting other regional countries. Foreign Minister Esmail Baghaei has confirmed that foreign ministers from the GCC countries and Iraq will attend the meeting in Oman. Iran and Oman agreed on a shipping route, mine clearing, and short-term management of the Strait of Hormuz last month. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that the world is going through a period of unprecedented complexity. He stated that Iran has been subjected to heavy sanctions in recent years and that the pressure has reached a critical and dangerous stage. The repercussions of this pressure extend beyond Iran's borders. The BRICS summit of emerging economies in India, where Pezeshkian is speaking, is set to take place later this week.