Hormuz & Iran-US Tensions: President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and resume nuclear talks, saying Tehran is “losing so badly” and wants a deal on terms the US won’t accept; Oman’s Position: Oman’s foreign minister reiterated Muscat’s commitment to safeguard navigation through the strait under international law and urged Iran and the US to reach a lasting political settlement; US Economic Pressure: Treasury chief Scott Bessent said Operation Economic Outcast is “delivering results,” citing curbs on Iranian airlines and banking links, including reports that Türkiye and Oman halted Mahan Air flights and the UAE stopped Iranian airline flights; Local Content in Infrastructure: Oman’s road projects surpassed OMR200mn in local content value in H1 2026, with average local content above 60% and more work awarded to SMEs; Banking Regulation: The Central Bank of Oman held its third 2026 meeting, adopting policies for bank/representative office classification and licensing plus an emergency framework; VAT Relief: Oman’s Tax Authority set zero-percent VAT for selected essentials from 1 Oct 2026, including basic food commodities, human medicines/medical equipment, and veterinary medicines/medical equipment; Food Security Leadership: The Royal Academy of Management launched a National Leadership Development Programme in the Food Security Sector targeting 35 leaders; Student Allowances: The Social Protection Fund urged students to register for monthly allowances via the electronic system to update beneficiary data and verify eligibility; Trade & Fisheries: Oman exported squid worth about OMR4.47mn in 2025 to 19 countries, with Vietnam the top buyer; Tourism Supply: A report says Oman will deliver 700 new hotel rooms by end-2026, taking inventory to about 40,800 keys.