U.S. Should Not Mistake Oman for a Neutral Mediator

Oman is not hesitating to show its sympathy for Iran. The country’s sultan, Haitham bin Tarik, called Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 16 to offer condolences and tell Pezeshkian that Oman seeks “to contribute actively through all political and diplomatic means to resolv[e] this crisis.” The call follows a report in The Jerusalem Post indicating that Iran has turned to both Oman and Qatar to mediate with Washington in the hope that the United States will prevail on Israel to stop its airstrikes so Washington and Tehran can revive their stalled nuclear talks. But Oman is unfit to serve as a trusted go-between despite hosting several backchannel meetings between U.S. and Iranian officials over the past three months.

Muscat maintains a deep strategic relationship Tehran even though it portrays itself as a neutral broker guided by “principles of openness, neutrality, and mutual respect.” Oman continues to provide a haven for one of Iran’s most dangerous proxies — the Houthis — and its officials have echoed anti-Israel rhetoric in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on the Jewish state.

Muscat and Tehran’s Strategic Relationship

Oman has long functioned as Iran’s financial artery. At the height of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the country not only maintained thriving trade with Iran but also repatriated billions of dollars in frozen funds through Bank Muscat. Iranian banks sanctioned for financing terrorism remain operational in Oman, allowing Tehran access to the international banking system as a whole.

The relationship has a military dimension as well. In early 2025, Oman’s top military commander, Vice Adm. Abdullah bin Khamis Al Raisi, met with Iran’s military chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, pledging tighter defense cooperation. Israel killed Bagheri in an airstrike on June 13.

Oman has also provided sanctuary to Houthi officials since 2015, including their de facto foreign minister, Mohammed Abdul Salam, whom the United States sanctioned in March. The Houthis also use Omani territory as a conduit for weapons smuggling, including missiles and Chinese drone parts.

Oman Sides With Iran Against Israel

On June 13, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, declaring, “Israel’s unilateral attack on Iran is illegal, unjustifiable, and a grave threat to regional stability.” The Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, calling the Israeli strike “a dangerous and reckless escalation that violates the United Nations Charter and international law.”

Oman’s reactions went beyond official condemnations. Some state-aligned figures openly celebrated Iran’s retaliation. Ahmad Al Khalil, Oman’s grand mufti (a key religious leader) since 1975, offered ample praise: “The Iranian response to the Zionist aggression was firm and crucial — it warmed hearts, reassured souls, and renewed hope for the end of the Zionist occupation of the holy lands.” This is not the first time the mufti has supported attacks against Israel. He previously endorsed Houthi strikes on Israel, earning recognition from Hamas operatives — some of whom wore Omani flags on their chests and raised an image of the mufti during a hostage release ceremony in February.

Washington Needs No Mediator To Deal With Tehran

The Trump administration has made clear what it expects from Tehran. When the clerical regime says it is ready to negotiate the verifiable dismantlement of its uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons programs, the White House is ready to make a deal. There is no need for a mediator to convey a message that should come directly from Tehran.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he focuses on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. For more analysis from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.