A planned meeting between Iran and Gulf states over the Strait of Hormuz was postponed as the war in Yemen rapidly escalates.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Iran and Oman jointly decided to delay the talks because of “events unfolding in Yemen.”

The war in Yemen reignited in July following Saudi strikes on the Sanaa Airport. The conflict has significantly escalated over the past week. Ansar Allah has captured significant territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the key port city of Mokha. 

These territorial gains will give Ansar Allah more options to enforce the blockade of Saudi shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Additionally, Ansar Allah has attacked Saudi military bases and oil infrastructure. 

While Ansar Allah is considered an ally of Tehran, Yemen has largely remained on the sidelines of the US and Israeli war against Iran. Baghaei argued that the conflicts against Iran and Yemen should be considered unrelated. 

Baghaei said Iran has “no relations whatsoever with what is unfolding in Yemen”

Monday’s meeting in Oman was expected to include discussions on future protocols for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain had said it will not participate in the talks, arguing that stability in the Strait “cannot be preserved through a policy of appeasement.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained Tehran will present the Gulf states with details and maps of the shipping arrangement it has negotiated with Oman. However, he stressed that an agreement with Muscat would not automatically result in Iran reopening the Strait.

Trump says he does not care if the Gulf countries meet with Iran. “I don’t care. That’s up to them,” Trump told reporters. “If they could be happy… if they’re happy, that’s fine.”

Previously, Trump said that the US would attack Oman if Muscat interfered in Washington’s negotiations with Tehran. 

The waterway is the only entrance to and exit from the Persian Gulf. About a fifth of the world’s energy crosses the Strait. 

In response to the US and Israeli war against Iran, Tehran seized control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the Strait is within its and Oman’s territorial waters, and any vessels that transit the Strait will have to pay a fee. 

Over the past month, Oman and Iran have engaged in direct negotiations to agree on new shipping protocols for the Strait. The deal would give Iran full control over ships entering the Persian Gulf, while existing ships would be subject to joint oversight between Tehran and Muscat.