World News

Oman's sultan begins Britain state visit amid Strait of Hormuz tensions

Associated Press reports the three-day visit comes as Oman, on the Strait of Hormuz, seeks neutrality in the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 02:06 UTC3 reports

The short version

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik begins a three-day state visit to Britain, starting with a Windsor Castle welcome on Tuesday.[Associated Press]
Oman borders the western shore of the Strait of Hormuz and has sought neutrality while Iran has struck it with drones and missiles.[Associated Press]
Associated Press reports Trump threatened in August to bomb Oman after Iran said it reached a shipping-route deal with Oman.[Associated Press]

King Charles III will welcome Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman to Windsor Castle on Tuesday at the start of a three-day state visit.[Associated Press]
Oman sits on the western shore of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for international oil flows.[Associated Press]
Oman has sought to remain neutral in the U.S.-Iran conflict while working to broker a peace deal, even though Iran has targeted it with drones and missiles.[Associated Press]
Associated Press reports that Trump threatened in August to bomb Oman after Iran said it reached a shipping-route deal with Oman.[Associated Press]
Burnham's office said the sultan gave the prime minister an update on the situation in the strait when they spoke on Monday.[Associated Press]

The August Trump threat and the Iran shipping-route deal rest on a single outlet's reporting and are not independently confirmed.[Associated Press]
Burnham's office's account of the Monday call is an attributed statement and has not been independently verified.[Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.