At the start of the ongoing U.S.-Iran war, Oman utilized its staunch impartiality to establish a diplomatic back channel with Tehran, a move that successfully helped Gulf states reopen vital flight corridors. However, three months later, Washington increasingly views this neutral approach as hostile and is actively pressing Oman to sever its diplomatic ties with Iran. The Trump administration has escalated tensions significantly by threatening to impose sanctions and even launch airstrikes against the sultanate.
These aggressive threats stem from a U.S. intelligence assessment alleging that Muscat plans to join Iran in charging tolls to vessels navigating the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Omani officials, including the ambassador to Washington, have repeatedly denied these claims, assuring the U.S. that there are no plans for tolling. Nevertheless, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly threatened financial repercussions on social media, demanding compliance.
Historical Mediation and Growing Distrust
Oman has a long-established history of mediating regional conflicts, supported by its 200-year diplomatic relationship with the U.S. and its centuries-old ties with Iran. Unlike its Sunni neighbors, most Omanis belong to the moderate Ibadite sect, which has historically allowed them to bridge divides and facilitate landmark negotiations, such as the 2015 nuclear pact. Recently, Oman mediated two new rounds of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington before the current conflict erupted.
However, U.S. officials trace the current deep distrust to a television appearance by Oman’s foreign minister. Just before the first U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, the minister claimed a nuclear agreement was within reach. American officials strongly denied that any serious Iranian offer existed. Consequently, the Trump administration has actively tried to sideline Oman in subsequent diplomatic processes, stripping the nation of its traditional role as a trusted regional mediator.
Regional Friction and Strategic Isolation
This diplomatic crisis has exposed Oman’s lack of structural influence in Washington. As a smaller oil producer, Oman lacks the lucrative military contracts and American military bases hosted by wealthier neighbors like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Oman’s continued engagement with Iran has also severely ruffled feathers among these regional allies, who view Muscat as being too closely aligned with Tehran amid a wider regional war.
Muscat has systematically refused to sign joint statements from the U.S. and Arab nations condemning Iranian aggression. In a move that incensed its neighbors, Oman declined to call out Tehran even when Iranian drones struck Oman’s own ports. Furthermore, Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was the only Gulf leader to formally congratulate Mojtaba Khamenei upon his appointment as Iran’s new supreme leader during the opening stages of the conflict.
Omani PR Offensive and Future Strategy
Shocked by the sudden U.S. hostility, Omani officials are now launching a public-relations offensive to demonstrate their commitment to international stability. This strategy includes working with the United Nations to persuade Iran to allow ships carrying fertilizer ingredients to safely pass to African nations facing a severe food crisis. Throughout the war, Oman has also actively assisted international vessels by providing navigational guidance, search-and-rescue operations, and medical services.
Omani leaders continue to argue that keeping communication channels open is the hallmark of responsible leadership in a volatile region. They defend their refusal to directly condemn Iran as a necessary strategy to help end the war permanently. From Muscat’s perspective, the controversial Hormuz toll demand is not an act of war, but rather a negotiating tool designed to secure the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
Reference
Faucon, B., Said, S., & Ward, A. (2026, junio 2). U.S. presses neutral Oman to pick a side and cut ties with Iran. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/us-oman-iran-ties-3e056744