Iran’s Khamenei calls for Gulf unity as Hormuz tensions persist

What the report says

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has called on leaders in the Gulf and other Islamic countries to identify their “real enemy” and confront it, according to Al Jazeera, as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue and diplomacy remains stalled. The message was published on Sunday to mark the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Khamenei’s public comments come after months of heightened regional strain and amid continued efforts by mediators to restart talks.

Al Jazeera reports that Tehran is still taking a hard line on movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital shipping lane that carries a major share of global oil and gas traffic. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday that Iran had reached an understanding with Oman on a temporary maritime route, but tied implementation to the United States meeting commitments under an earlier memorandum. He also said vessels would need to coordinate with Iran to cross the strait. The article says transit levels remain low.

Regional diplomacy is continuing despite the impasse. Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister visited Tehran on Thursday for discussions that included de-escalation and restoring shipping, while Oman and Pakistan are also involved in mediation efforts. The International Maritime Organization has warned that many ships and seafarers remain unable to leave the Gulf safely.

The standoff is unfolding alongside economic pressure on Iran, including high inflation and reduced trade, with the government blaming US sanctions and the naval blockade. Al Jazeera notes that President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged reviving the interim understanding with Washington, suggesting Tehran is trying to balance public defiance over Hormuz with signs of continued backchannel diplomacy.