India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group Meets in Delhi, Discusses Hormuz Security

India and Oman held the 15th India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group meeting in New Delhi on 7 October 2026. The two sides reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional security and the Strait of Hormuz, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (CPV and OIA) in the MEA, and Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, Oman's Undersecretary for Political Affairs, co-chaired the talks. The MEA did not announce new agreements or deliverables.

The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Iran lies on its northern coast and Oman's Musandam Peninsula on its southern side. It is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, which is why Oman matters to the question.

The strait has been disrupted since the Iran war began on 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian military targets. Iran responded by closing the strait to foreign shipping. The IRGC, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, later said it was closed to what it called unfriendly nations.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on 26 March 2026 that India, China, Russia and some other friendly nations were allowed to use the strait. Even so, the route is a direct energy-security concern for New Delhi. Major suppliers using it include Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

India has adapted. Indian-flagged tankers carrying LPG and crude kept crossing the strait in the early weeks of the conflict. As of 1 October 2026, Indian refiners have begun hiring tankers to enter the Persian Gulf and collect crude. Iraqi and Kuwaiti supplies, which fell sharply after the conflict began, have returned.

For India, Oman offers access to the strait's southern shore, a port-rich coastline outside the Persian Gulf, and a CEPA already in place. Oman's ports lie outside the strait, so they are useful for ship-to-ship transfers and for routing cargo around the choke point. The consultation signals that New Delhi wants maritime coordination with Muscat as the crisis continues.

Short-term: No new agreements came out of the meeting, so there is no immediate change in trade or defence arrangements. The talks keep a diplomatic channel open with Oman while shipping risks continue. An attack on a merchant vessel on 7 October 2026 left 11 Indian crew injured, according to earlier reporting, and the vessel was not named. Indian refiners continue to arrange their own tankers for Gulf crude.

Long-term: The meeting shows that New Delhi wants closer maritime coordination with Muscat as the Hormuz crisis continues. Both sides noted the deepening of the strategic partnership in recent years and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation across sectors. The talks fit a wider pattern of Indian outreach that week, including meetings with the US Indo-Pacific commander. No date has been announced for the next round of the group.

Who is affected: Indian seafarers and tanker operators face the security risks on the route. Oman, with its ports and southern shore of the strait, gains a larger role in India's supply planning. Gulf suppliers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait also depend on the passage for exports to India.

Questions and Answers