Oman looks to raise profile in Asia after helping Saudi Arabia and Iran bury the hatchet

The oil-heavy nation is seeking to ‘capitalise diplomatically and economically’ on its recent success as an intermediary between Riyadh and Tehran, analysts say

It’s already involved in Yemen peace negotiations and is signing energy deals, some of them green, with Asian partners including China, Japan, Thailand

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Oman’s ruler Haitham bin Tariq, on the throne since January 2020. His predecessor was in charge for half a century. Photo: via AP

Published: 3:00pm, 16 Apr 2023

The sultanate of Oman is working to capitalise on recent successes as mediator between rival neighbours Saudi Arabia and Iran and the boosting of its debt-laden economy with renewable energy investments by Asian importers of its oil and gas.

A low profile Indian Ocean nation, Oman has for decades maintained its neutrality in the Middle East’s manifold political disputes and conflicts. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, leader since early 2020, worked closely with Iraq and Kuwait to end a seven-year suspension of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran, formally announced last week as part of a deal brokered by China.

His policies represent the continuation of the 50-year era of former Sultan Qaboos bin Said, during which Haitham long served as Oman’s top diplomat.

Having hosted several rounds of confidence-building talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the lead up to the so-called Beijing Agreement, Oman is also playing a key role in ending the civil war that has plagued its southern neighbour Yemen since 2014. The conflict is between the Saudi-backed government there and Houthi rebels, supported by Iran.

Oman’s diplomats accompanied Saudi officials to Yemen’s capital Sanaa for talks on April 9 with Houthi insurgents, aiming to negotiate a six-month ceasefire agreement as part of a proposed two-year political transition to end the war, which has seen hundreds of thousands die from violence and hunger.

Saudi Arabia has been mired in the conflict since 2015 after intervening militarily, as the leader of an Arab coalition, to save the internationally-recognised Yemeni administration.