DUBAI, September 13 — Iran is holding talks with Gulf Arab states on a security arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz that would exclude the United States, according to statements from Iranian officials and regional diplomats. The discussions, confirmed in recent days, involve Iran and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The stated aim is a regional framework to ensure safe passage through the world’s most critical oil chokepoint.
The record shows this is a significant diplomatic shift. The United States has maintained a naval presence in the Gulf for decades, including the Fifth Fleet headquartered in Bahrain.
Any agreement excluding Washington would mark a historic change in Gulf security architecture.
The Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, approximately 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. According to the US Energy Information Administration, it serves as the transit route for roughly 20 percent of global oil consumption and one-third of all seaborne oil trade. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait in response to sanctions or military pressure.
The most notable instances came in 2018 and 2019, when tensions escalated following the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In 2019, several oil tankers were attacked near the strait, and Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, the Stena Impero, in July of that year.
The US blamed Iran for the attacks. Iran denies involvement.
Mediation and Motives
The current talks are reportedly being mediated by Oman and Qatar, both of which have historically maintained diplomatic channels with Tehran. The discussions come amid broader regional de-escalation efforts, including the China-brokered restoration of Saudi-Iran diplomatic ties in March 2023. The exclusion of the US from these talks signals a potential realignment of security responsibilities in the Gulf, where Gulf states have grown increasingly wary of relying solely on US security guarantees.
Key figures involved include Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Gulf counterparts, though specific attendees have not been disclosed. The US State Department has not issued a formal response to the talks.
The talks are ongoing and no agreement has been announced. The outcome could affect global oil markets, which remain sensitive to any disruption in the strait. The discussions are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with a possible summit in Muscat or Doha.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, and any agreement excluding the US would mark a historic shift in Gulf security architecture.
