Oman has adopted a unique diplomatic position during the war involving Iran, maintaining neutrality while strengthening its role as a mediator amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Muscat’s approach to the Iran war
On 28 February 2026, a coordinated U.S.-Israeli campaign struck Iran. Oman positioned itself as a neutral broker almost immediately after the conflict’s ignition. Oman immediately condemned the attacks against Iran after the war began. Despite the suspicious and ambiguous attacks inside Oman, Muscat did not weaken its political relationship with Iran and congratulated the election of the new Iranian leader.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said, This war is illegal. In March, he, referring to tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, said that these conflicts were not started by Tehran.
In fact, Oman moved in a policy of declaration and action towards avoiding war. Unlike other actors of the GCC, Oman did not allow the United States to use its land, water, and airspace, and American bases in the country did not participate in the war.
Oman also opposed providing any support and services in this war. Despite the dangerous developments in the region, the Sultanate of Oman remained steadfast in its foreign policy principles.
Oman also officially called on the UN Security Council to take action to stop regional war and did not join other GCC actors in the UN Security Council.
In the next step, Oman welcomed Iran’s responsible approach in accepting the continuation of the ceasefire and entering into the diplomatic process and expressed hope that peace and stability would return to the region as soon as possible.
The continuation of diplomatic consultations, such as the telephone conversation between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, and the recent visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Oman, indicate the continuation of the positive and strong relationship between the two countries.
In the past, Tehran and Muscat have always guaranteed the safe passage of ships in good faith, but in wartime conditions, cooperation and new decisions are needed. Immediately after the start of the Iran War, Oman held high-level meetings with Iranian officials on the new legal structure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman certainly considers the conflict in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East a serious threat to itself.
Muscat is continuing diplomatic efforts and the strengthening of constructive dialogue to address the challenges facing the region, focus on finding sustainable solutions to regional conflicts based on respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in important and strategic internal affairs.
Oman still does not consider Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to the security of the region. Muscat’s good relations with Iran, and the US and maintaining the independence of Oman’s foreign policy have made it a valuable actor, and effective mediator in resolving crises.
Positive consequences of the Oman model
Oman is a member of the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, but it adopted a completely different position from its neighbors such as the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain towards the US-Israeli war against Iran. This approach has so far had broad multidimensional benefits for the country in the geopolitical and geoeconomic spheres.
In fact, Oman’s foreign policy principles are based on independence, respect for the territorial integrity of its neighbors, neutrality and interaction with neighboring countries, presence in regional organizations and coalitions, strengthening its foreign policy, and playing a mediating role in the regional arena.
Smart diplomacy and the use of the principle of active and neutral mediation to reduce the level of tension in the Middle East have also been able to gain the positive opinion of other actors. Even Oman remains the channel that Iran trusts the most, and the mediation ability, the Omani brand, and Muscat’s increased soft power can continue to work.
Oman’s policy of neutrality during crises and military confrontations in the region has been able to keep Oman away from the whirlwinds of Middle East developments. In fact, Muscat had good cooperation with the Iranians living in Oman and was able to keep itself away from the fire of war with a rational and principled policy.
On the other hand, today Oman has been able to gain many economic benefits from the war conditions. While its economy did not suffer, it also benefited from justifiable economic growth, while its neighbors in the GCC are experiencing very severe economic problems.
In fact, while other countries are suffering extensive losses and costs, Oman strengthened its economy. As the macro indicators and real estate values of Oman have increased, their oil and gas market has more customers.
Now that evidence points to blows to other regional models such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, Oman’s economic appeal as an island of stability in the Middle East is likely to grow even more.
This approach could have further positive implications for Oman’s 2040 vision, new and expanding ports, potential logistics and transport cooperation on the North-South corridor, and the country’s transit role.
Many in Muscat believe that the goal of a war against Iran is not only to redraw the structure of the region and that there can be no compromise with Israel. This approach is not meant as sympathy for Iran, but the consequences of a war with Iran could also benefit Oman and harm Israel’s allies in the region.
In addition, cooperation with Iran enables Muscat to maintain the opportunity for independence and the possibility of independent maneuver against actors such as the UAE or to use Iran as a factor to create a balance with other actors.
Establishing the Omani model in Middle East diplomacy will certainly have more positive consequences for the country’s political, soft power, security, and economic interests.
Muscat’s approach based on the Omani model in the Iran war could also have more positive consequences in expanding relations, expanding economic cooperation, exchanging delegations, increasing flights and foreign trade volumes, and deepening people-to-people contacts with Iran, Russia, and China.
On another level, although the consequences of the Iran war will likely have negative effects on US-Oman relations, the benefits of the Omani model will be broader in relations with regions and actors such as the EU, Eurasia, BRICS, and China.
Samyar Rostami, а political observer and senior researcher in international relations
