Oman meeting aims to convince Trump regional powers control Strait of Hormuz

Oman is hosting a diplomatic meeting focused on the Strait of Hormuz, bringing together regional voices to press Washington on the future governance of the vital waterway. Central to the discussions is an argument advanced by an Iran expert participating in the talks: that US President Donald Trump must recognize the principle that regional states, not external powers, should hold primary control over the strait's security and oversight arrangements. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between Oman and Iran, carries roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil and a large share of global liquefied natural gas shipments, making its stability a direct economic concern for every Gulf producer. Oman has long positioned itself as a neutral convener in Gulf security debates, maintaining working channels with Tehran, Washington, and its Gulf Cooperation Council neighbors alike, and Muscat's willingness to host this conversation reflects that traditional role. For Qatar, which relies on safe passage through the strait to export the bulk of its liquefied natural gas to Asian and European buyers via the Persian Gulf, any shift toward a security framework rooted in regional control rather than external military dominance would align with Doha's long-standing preference for dialogue over confrontation with Iran, as well as its broader push for Gulf states to manage their own security architecture. The talks come against a backdrop of recurring tensions in the waterway, including past seizures of tankers and periodic threats from Tehran to restrict transit, which have repeatedly underscored how quickly disruptions there can ripple through global energy markets and regional diplomacy.