Global

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says talks were held with Oman on Friday and Saturday over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He said progress has been made. “The two sides exchanged views on common principles and operational mechanisms for managing the safe passage of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz while respecting the sovereign rights of the two coastal states,” he says, according to Iran International. Baghaei reports that “the talks were useful and progress was made,” but notes that “technical and political consultations between the two sides will continue.” He says that “at present, there has been no change in the status of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.” In the meantime, the last two nights in the Gulf have been relatively quiet. There was no bombing of Iran by the US, and Iran has not attacked targets in neighbouring Gulf countries. There were however several incdents involving shipping.