King Charles III of the United Kingdom welcomed Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman for a state visit, praising Oman's "noble efforts" in helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Sultan of Oman, at a state banquet on Tuesday, stated that his country has chosen an independent diplomatic path in the conflict-ridden region. The Sultan is scheduled to hold talks with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday at Downing Street, with security, trade, and investment expected to be key topics.