Will ties with Iran change under Oman’s new sultan?
A new sultan sitting on the throne in Muscat has sparked questions about the future of traditionally cordial ties Tehran held with the late peacemaker, Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Tehran and Muscat have for decades maintained close relations, a tradition that was upheld even after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
However, Oman’s long-serving leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, died Jan. 10 at the age of 79, and the prospect of cordial Iran-Oman relations is subject to speculation.
Some concern had already been sparked by recent news of the sultan's deteriorating health after a long battle with colon cancer. The iconic mediator played an effective role in the most contentious Iran-related cases on the international stage, from the marathon nuclear negotiations between Tehran and world powers — which involved historic direct Iran-US talks — to the release of American prisoners over the years.
Under Qaboos, Oman managed to adhere to impartiality in its foreign policy and was sometimes called the “Middle East’s Switzerland.” Unlike Persian Gulf Arab states, Muscat maintained its support for Tehran at the height of tensions, which saw the Islamic Republic of Iran at odds with most of Washington’s regional allies. Iran appears to have understood and appreciated the value of such backing at a moment of crisis.
