King Charles III welcomed Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, praising Oman's "noble efforts" in helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Charles stated that Oman's peacekeeping efforts and "constructive neutrality" in the Gulf region extend far beyond the Strait of Hormuz and deserve the highest respect. Oman is a key military ally of the UK and acted as a mediator between the US and Iran after the conflict erupted in late February. The Sultan of Oman is expected to hold talks with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday and sign an agreement to promote two-way investment between the two countries.