In recent days, the Omani consul admitted to Novinka that Iran’s strikes on Oman caused a shock. An oil storage tank in the city of Salalah was also hit, and shocked tourists could see black smoke rising into the sky: “It was a shock in any case, because nothing like this was expected. From the first moment, it was expected that Oman would be absolutely spared. But it can be seen that the situation is escalating, the Israelis are not under control. Trump slowly no longer knows what is happening where.”
It was not the first shock. Likewise, the sultanate was taken aback even before when Israel and the US attacked Iran from the air on Saturday morning, February 28, Vaněk said: “It was more than a slap in the face. In my opinion, the Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busajdi, has not broken it to this day. It is an absolute loss of confidence towards the American side, because the representatives of the American side who participated in the negotiations had already reached a stage that was leading to some kind of agreement, and it was overnight away. This procedure arouses distrust in Oman.”
The honorary consul recalled the circumstances under which the American-Israeli strikes began: “It was shortly after the negotiations in Geneva, and on Monday, March 2, the negotiations at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were supposed to continue in Vienna. However, when the attack began on Saturday morning, the entire negotiations stopped. I think the whole world is in shock over the situation.”
Iran needs a mediator
Vaněk still believes that, despite the face Oman received, it will still play a key role in further negotiations on ending the fighting. He is already involved in this direction: “Today, the situation is such that the foreign minister negotiates very intensively with all sides of the world, both with Arab countries and with the highest European representatives, he deals with the Americans and, of course, he is in daily contact with Iran, with Tehran.”
“Sometimes even the Sultan gets involved. There is growing pressure to start talks, which should move the whole problem to a diplomatic position and stop the fighting. Oman will then become the center of events,” he added.
The Sultanate has long-term good relations with Iran and Tehran chooses it for negotiations. “American negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program have been going on in Oman for decades. They were held there already under Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Oman can be relied on,” the honorary consul reminds, stressing that Oman acts as neutral.
That’s why it doesn’t face such hard blows from Tehran as the surrounding countries: “Iran still needs someone through whom it can negotiate. It must have someone in reserve. The West would certainly choose someone else, but Iran will not accept anyone else. It will only be Oman, through which they can start some negotiations.”
