Key facts
- Oman is seen as a major winner in the new Middle East order following the war on Iran.
- Western, Arab, and US diplomats view Oman as strategically positioned due to its geography and business acumen.
- Oman's neutral stance during the conflict, unlike its neighbors, is now seen as vindicated.
- The ceasefire is widely perceived as a victory for Iran.
- Oman's conciliatory approach to Iran is becoming the norm for other Gulf countries.
Oman is emerging as a significant beneficiary of a new Middle East order being shaped by the United States and Iran, according to Western, Arab, and US diplomats. This assessment, while potentially counterintuitive, stems from Oman's strategic geography, business acumen, and Iran's demonstrated regional influence following a recent conflict.
During the conflict, Oman distinguished itself by not opening its military bases to the US or joining attacks on Iran, a stance that initially marked it as an outlier among its neighbors. However, this decision has been vindicated by a ceasefire widely viewed as a victory for Iran. Analysts suggest that Oman's historically conciliatory position towards Tehran has now become a more widely adopted approach by other Gulf countries.
Bernard Haykel, a professor at Princeton University specializing in Middle Eastern studies, noted that Oman's consistent conciliatory stance towards Iran has now become the preferred approach for other Gulf nations.