Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said arrived for a state visit, marking the first visit to China by an Omani head of state since diplomatic ties were established in 1978

Escalating conflict between Iran, the US, and regional powers centered on Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, military strikes across the Gulf, NATO's response, and broader diplomatic and economic fallout including sanctions, cyber warfare, and the Israel-Lebanon front. The maritime confrontation between the United States and Iran expanded alongside Iranian missile attacks elsewhere in the region. Iran said it targeted ten vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States denied that its warships were hit. Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian missiles directed towards a U.S. base, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas without reported casualties.

The diplomacy lens matters because this was not only a military pause. It was also a negotiated pause assembled through intermediaries, public statements, and a still-uncertain next phase.