Washington: We are working to ensure safe passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz.. Muscat: Negotiations on navigation in the strait are “positive and constructive”

Atmospheric conditions in the Middle East ranged from cautious optimism regarding the outcomes of efforts to de-escalate tensions and prioritize dialogue between Washington and Tehran, to strong condemnation of the treacherous Iranian attack on an Emirati oil tanker as it transited the Strait of Hormuz. US Vice President JD Vance affirmed that Washington continues to pressure Tehran, noting that the United States is working on establishing a safe passage plan for ships through the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that this includes Iran’s obligation to refrain from firing on commercial vessels while transiting the strait.

Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Vance added, “Iran has informed us that it will allow oil to flow at maximum capacity through the Strait of Hormuz, and has also assured us that it will not impose transit fees for the strait. However, we do not trust that until it is proven. We will see what actually happens on the ground.”

The US Vice President considered that the main issue in the Strait of Hormuz lies in Iran’s laying of mines at the outset of the war, noting that work is underway to establish a safe navigation system in the strait. Vance continued, “We are in the middle of the game and are using diplomatic, economic, and military tools to achieve the best outcome for our people. The Iranians are hurting and want to end this.”

Positive and constructive atmosphere

For its part, the Sultanate of Oman confirmed that ongoing negotiations regarding arrangements for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are proceeding in a “positive and constructive” atmosphere. The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement carried by the official news agency OMA, emphasized the importance of avoiding any actions that could affect these negotiations and the progress made, which takes into account the interests of all parties.

On another front, Oman expressed its condemnation of repeated attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, considering such acts a violation of international law and territorial waters sovereignty, and representing a threat to maritime navigation safety, regional security, and stability.

Meanwhile, Egypt and Iraq affirmed the importance of joint efforts to de-escalate tensions, prioritize dialogue, and support initiatives aimed at calming the situation and resolving crises through political and diplomatic means, thereby preserving regional security and stability and sparing the area further tension.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release that this came during a phone call between Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty and his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein, during which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and build on the momentum characterizing Egyptian-Iraqi ties, contributing to expanding cooperation horizons in various fields and continuing coordination and consultation on regional issues of mutual interest.

The ministry clarified that the telephone conversation also covered the exchange of views on recent developments in the region and the future of security arrangements. The two ministers emphasized the importance of continuing to strengthen and support the trilateral cooperation mechanism among Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, considering it a promising framework for regional integration and leveraging the human and economic resources of the three countries. They stressed the importance of building on achievements to meet the aspirations of the peoples of the three countries for further development and prosperity.

In a related development, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Expressing the Kingdom’s condemnation and strongest rejection of the targeting of an Emirati tanker while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, affirming that these unacceptable attacks constitute an assault on the security and safety of maritime navigation and on global energy supply security.

The ministry stated in a statement reported by the official news agency (WAM) that the Kingdom reaffirms that Iran’s continued launching of these attacks constitutes a serious violation of international laws and customs, including UN Security Council Resolution (2817), which guarantees freedom of navigation and safe passage in sea lanes.

The Kingdom held Iran responsible for the consequences of its continuation of these brutal attacks, calling on Iran to immediately halt these violations to preserve the security, stability, and safety of the region. Saudi Arabia renewed its full solidarity with and support for the sisterly United Arab Emirates in the measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty and assets.

Qatar also strongly condemned the Iranian attack targeting an Emirati tanker with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, deeming it a blatant violation of international law and freedom of maritime navigation, and a flagrant breach of UN Security Council Resolution (2817).

In a statement reported by the official news agency (QNA), the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed Qatar’s categorical rejection of using the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool and called for its reopening without conditions, affirming that “freedom of navigation in this vital waterway is a firmly established principle that admits no compromise, and that the continued closure of the strait endangers the vital interests of the region’s countries and the global economy.”

The ministry stressed the necessity of “halting unjustified Iranian attacks on the property of sister states,” while simultaneously affirming Qatar’s full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its support for all measures taken to protect its assets.

In a related context, the Kingdom of Bahrain expressed its condemnation and strongest rejection of the treacherous Iranian missile attack on an ADNOC tanker while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, in a flagrant violation of international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, posing a serious threat to maritime navigation security and energy supplies.

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed in a statement reported by the official news agency (BNA) the Kingdom’s full solidarity with the sisterly United Arab Emirates and its complete support for the measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security, stability, and vital interests, stemming from the deep-rooted historical fraternal ties uniting the leaderships and peoples of the two sister countries.

The ministry affirmed that the security and stability of the UAE are an inseparable part of Bahrain’s national security, stressing the necessity for the UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities and take deterrent measures to protect the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and vital waterways, and to compel Iran to reopen the strait and refrain from targeting commercial vessels, thereby preserving the interests of the region’s countries and the world, and safeguarding regional security and stability.

For its part, Egypt strongly condemned the targeting of the Emirati oil tanker, considering it an attack that poses a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and the freedom of trade movement in one of the most important international waterways.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed in a statement that its country expresses full solidarity with the UAE and its categorical rejection of all acts targeting ships and civilian facilities that threaten the security and safety of navigation in the region. The ministry stressed the necessity of respecting freedom of navigation in international waterways and not endangering it, renewing its call for de-escalation and prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions to contribute to achieving regional security and stability.

For his part, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy condemned Iran’s missile attack on the Emirati oil tanker while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Fahmy stated in a press release that this attack represents a new link in the continuous chain of Iranian violations of the principle of freedom of navigation and the safety of sea lanes, emphasizing that this aggressive behavior constitutes a breach of UN Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2817, which affirmed the principle of freedom of navigation and rejected targeting commercial ships.

The Arab League Secretary-General held Tehran fully responsible for these attacks for violating established international principles regarding freedom of navigation and the safety of waterways, warning of their repercussions on the security and stability of the region.

In the same context, Arab Parliament President Mohammed Al-Yamahi condemned the targeting of an Emirati tanker with a missile in the Strait of Hormuz, affirming that targeting commercial ships constitutes an escalation that threatens the security of the region, trade movement, and global energy supplies.

Al-Yamahi expressed in a statement the Arab Parliament’s full solidarity with and support for the United Arab Emirates in all measures taken to preserve its security, stability, and protect its assets and facilities, affirming that its security, territorial integrity, and interests are an inseparable part of Arab national security.

The United Arab Emirates had previously strongly condemned the aggressive Iranian attack targeting a tanker belonging to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with no casualties reported.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement reported by the official news agency (WAM) yesterday that this attack constitutes a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution (2817), which emphasized freedom of navigation and rejected targeting commercial ships or disrupting international sea lanes.

The statement stressed that “targeting commercial navigation and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool for economic pressure or blackmail constitutes acts of piracy by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and poses a direct threat to the stability of the region and its peoples, as well as to global energy security.”

The UAE affirmed in this regard the necessity of halting these aggressive Iranian attacks to ensure its full commitment to stopping all hostile acts and reopening the Strait of Hormuz completely and unconditionally, thereby achieving the security of the region and the stability of the global economy and trade.

ADNOC had previously announced in a statement that one of its vessels was targeted by a missile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, affirming that no injuries occurred and that the situation was under control, according to (WAM).