Iran’s upcoming meeting with Gulf states in Oman tomorrow to discuss the Strait of Hormuz will aim to strengthen cooperation on security in the Middle East, AFP reports, citing state media.

The official IRNA news agency reported that the meeting will be “the first step towards establishing a regional framework for security cooperation” in the Gulf.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said “it will serve as an essential cornerstone for ensuring stability and security”, in a statement carried by the ISNA news agency.

The talks in the Omani port city of Salalah come as Iran and the United States clash over the blockaded strait that is crucial for the global oil and gas trade.