As the war between Iran and the United States remains unresolved and enters its ninth month, the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a focal point of the conflict. It is not only a strategic waterway but also a potential instrument of political power. The question of who controls access to the Strait, and on what terms, has implications far beyond the Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Oman, which has long cultivated its role as a mediator between regional adversaries and between Iran and the United States, this moment presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Muscat\u2019s diplomacy may offer a path towards de-escalation, but it also raises fundamental questions about the future regional order. What role can Oman play in shaping the arrangements governing the Strait of Hormuz? How will its relations with Tehran and Washington evolve? And can regional diplomacy produce a sustainable framework for security in the Gulf?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Yousuf Al Bulushi <\/strong>is the Chairman of the Muscat Policy Council, Oman\u2019s first independent think-and-do tank, dedicated to advancing research, policy studies and dialogue to address global challenges. Al Bulushi is actively involved with leading international think tanks, specialising in regional security and GCC international relations, with a particular focus on regional geopolitics. His research examines the GCC region, with a notable emphasis on Oman\u2019s development strategies and foreign policy. A distinguished commentator on Oman\u2019s historical and contemporary geopolitical significance, Al Bulushi\u2019s scholarly work and insights establish him as a leading authority in the fields of regional security, GCC relations and political economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr James Worrall <\/strong>is an Associate Professor in International Relations and Middle East Studies at the University of Leeds. His research interests lie in the fields of comparative politics, security studies and international relations, with a particular geographical focus on the Gulf and the Levant. His research broadly focuses on: Western relations with the Arab world; Gulf politics, society and security; regional international organisations; decolonisation; counter-insurgency; security sector reform; regime stability and legitimacy in non-democratic states; and diplomatic theory and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gudrun Harrer<\/strong>, Lecturer in Modern History and Politics of the Near and Middle East at the University of Vienna and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna; former Senior Editor at Der Standard<\/em> (until 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As the war between Iran and the United States remains unresolved and enters its ninth month, the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a focal point of the conflict. It is not only a strategic waterway but also a potential instrument of political power. The question of who controls access to the Strait, and on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":15666,"template":"","format":[54],"meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"schwerpunkt":[43],"class_list":["post-14805","kreisky_event","type-kreisky_event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","schwerpunkt-internationale-politik-europa-und-sicherheit","format-online"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n