The US military halted its bombing campaign against Iran for a second consecutive night on July 26, after 13 consecutive nights of airstrikes. Omani officials traveled to Tehran around July 24-25 to open a diplomatic channel focused on navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz and broader de-escalation between Washington and Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply, and its partial blockade earlier in 2026 caused significant energy market volatility. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed the pause allows talks some space, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei acknowledged ongoing diplomatic discussions. Oman has historically mediated between the US and Iran, previously facilitating the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal.
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