Al Jazeera analysis suggests that Iran hopes to package the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a regional collective solution. Iranian officials will meet with representatives of Gulf states in Oman next Monday, where they are expected to discuss the next steps for opening the Strait of Hormuz. Statements by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bagaei indicate that Tehran is attempting to give the meeting a broader political context: Iran wants to portray the solution to opening the waterway as a collective approach, meaning that regional issues should be resolved by regional actors, particularly regarding the future management of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman have announced an understanding on establishing a temporary shipping route through the strait, clearing mines from the waterway in the short term, and determining the next steps for managing navigation through the strait. Furthermore, there appears to be a consensus among the parties that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries bordering or adjacent to the strait will participate in proposing a solution that serves all parties.
