Muscat: Notwithstanding the political equations in the region, Oman-Iran relations have successfully passed several tests of its time.
This special relationship can be called the cornerstone of the Sultanate of Oman’s foreign policy that meaningful solution to any crisis can be achieved only through a comprehensive dialogue.
Over the last 50 years, the Sultanate of Oman has been a key player in regional diplomacy and has been a host or part of many key negotiations, including the Iran Nuclear talks in 2015.
As a result, despite individual economic aspirations, all GCC countries today enjoy good economic and political relations. Recently, Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations in which they thanked the Sultanate for facilitating talks.
Iran and Saudi Arabia said in a statement they, “thank the Republic of Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the talks held between the two sides in 2021 and 2022 as well as the leaders and government of the People’s Republic of China for hosting and supporting the talks.”
The Sultanate of Oman welcomed the resumption of ties, which will strengthen the pillars of security and stability in the region and consolidate positive and constructive cooperation that benefits all peoples of the region and the world.
economic cooperation deals
Iran and Saudi Arabia said they would reopen embassies and missions within two months and implement security and economic cooperation deals signed more than 20 years ago. The Sultanate of Oman has been maintaining friendly relations with Iran, and both countries have been working on several projects, including a natural gas pipeline project.
According to the international media, Oman always played a constructive role through mediation. It did not take any sides but played a constructive role in resolving the conflicts in the region.
Iranian former president Hassan Rouhani paid his first visit to Oman in 2103, reflecting the cordial relations between the two countries. The late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos was the first Arab leader to visit Iran after the election of Rouhani in 2014.
After the nuclear deal in 2015, Rouhani praised Oman’s role, while the then US secretary of state John Kerry said that Oman not only hosted several important meetings, but also played a critical role in getting these talks off the ground in the first place.
As a result, the Omani-Iranian economic relations have been witnessing remarkable growth in various areas.
During the past two years, trade exchange between Oman and Iran grew by 27.9 per cent to reach RO 320.8 million by the end of 2022.
The number of companies with 100 per cent Iranian shareholding reached 1,346. The number is equivalent to 72.9 per cent of the total number of companies with Iranian investment.
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