Araghchi Meets Sultan Haitham in Muscat — Oman as Iran's Key Diplomatic Bridge

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Muscat, Oman on April 26, 2026 and held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on the ongoing conflict, Strait of Hormuz security, and Iran's diplomatic push for a negotiated settlement. The Muscat leg of Araghchi's tour followed his earlier stop in Islamabad (April 24) and preceded a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Oman has historically served as a key back-channel intermediary between Iran and Western powers — most notably during the Obama-era nuclear talks that led to the JCPOA. Araghchi's engagement with Muscat reflects Tehran's continued effort to build a diplomatic coalition and present itself as seeking a negotiated path out of the conflict, even as the US canceled its planned envoy visit and Iran's public posture remained defiant. Omani officials, who maintain cordial relations with both Tehran and Washington, were expected to relay messages about Iran's Hormuz reopening proposal to US interlocutors. Despite the diplomatic activity, Trump continued to insist the US 'holds all the cards' and maintained that Iran must come to the US — not the other way around.