Iran, Oman set ...
Page 1
Iran and Oman remain in close contact regarding regional affairs and unfolding developments. The Islamic Republic has consistently welcomed Oman’s role as a mediator, viewing Muscat’s decades-long policy of neutrality as a stabilizing force in regional and international diplomacy. Oman has stuck to its neutral stance and has managed to pull it off with notable success, often stepping in when tensions flare up between regional players. This has included disputes between Iran and Saudi Arabia, between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, between the UAE and Yemen. Oman also waded into rifts involving Arab states and Qatar, which ended in 2021. Neutrality and diplomatic skills have made Oman a go-to player in resolving high-stakes regional disputes, something has always been welcomed by Iran.
Oman’s reputation as a skilled mediator has grown further, as it plays a key role in mediating indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.
President Pezeshkian’s trip follows contacts between top Iranian and Omani officials, who have remained in touch amid tensions in West Asia, which have been escalating since the onset of the Gaza war in early October 2023. The Israeli aggression against in the Palestinian territory has been one of the main topics raised in talks between Iranian and Omani officials.
While Muscat has kept a neutral posture in many international crises, it is natural that both the Omani public and leadership, like much of the world, are deeply disturbed by the suffering of the Palestinian people because of Israeli atrocities.
Iran, Oman, and numerous other countries have been calling for a cease-fire, but the main obstacle remains the refusal of the Israeli regime to halt its military campaign. Moreover, Israel has outright dismissed the notion of third-party mediation, largely due to the protective umbrella extended by the United States. Such backing has shielded Israel from pressure, giving it the sense that it is immune to international calls for de-escalation.