Araghchi to Visit Oman as Hormuz Shipping Dispute Deepens

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to travel to Oman on Saturday with a diplomatic delegation for talks on regional developments and the Strait of Hormuz, reports citing Iran's state news agency said. The visit follows renewed U.S.-Iran fire and Washington's demand that Tehran publicly declare the strait open and stop attacks on commercial shipping. Oman is central because the waterway includes Omani and Iranian territorial waters, while normal international transit does not grant Tehran toll or veto power over ships. Reports also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump about American Gulf moves and that Defense Minister Israel Katz repeated Israel's readiness to confront Iran if needed.