Relations between Iran and Oman: effective variables, prospects

Farzad Bonesh

In the perspective of access to the development of political, and diplomatic relations and even strategic partnerships between the two countries, it will be easier.

In the past few centuries, the Omani governments have had close cultural and economic relations with Iran since their independence from Portugal in 1650. In the twentieth century, with Oman’s withdrawal from British influence in 1951 and the formation of the Omani monarchy in the 1970s, Iran-Oman relations expanded greatly.

The first Iranian ambassador was stationed in Muscat in 1972. After the Islamic Revolution of Iran, relations continued with Oman recognizing the Islamic Republic of Iran. Despite the decline in relations between 1985 and 1990, relations between the two countries gradually came out of the state of tension.

After the 2022 visit of the President of Iran to Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Sayed, Sultan of Oman, visited Iran in May 2023.  Oman is close to Iran in the east of the Arabian Peninsula from the north of the Musandam Peninsula (south of the Strait of Hormuz).

Relations have become more solid based on trust, friendship, good neighborliness and strong ties

Oman, with the principle of good neighborliness, a pragmatic approach, and maintaining good relations with Iran, seeks to play a positive role in regional equations and reduce gaps.

Muscat’s good relations with Iran, Europe, and the United States and maintaining the independence of Oman’s foreign policy have made it a valuable regional actor, and a credible and effective mediator in resolving crises.

Oman considers turmoil and conflict in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East a serious threat to itself. In recent years, in line with Oman’s national interests and reducing friction between Arab and Islamic countries, it has played an important role in reducing Iran’s tension with other actors such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.  For example, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq traveled to Bahrain and discussed their relations with Iran, or conveyed messages between Egypt and Iran.

Iran and Oman continue to discuss and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest. In a way, from the perspective of both sides, Iran-Oman relations are a desirable model of neighborly relations.

Continuous consultations and multidimensional targeted exchanges of delegations have distinguished the relations.

In the past year, with the meetings of military officials from both sides in February, strengthening defense cooperation and strengthening and developing relations between the two countries have been emphasized in the context of increasing regional tensions.

In April 2024, Oman and Iran emphasized strengthening cooperation based on the principle of good neighborliness, positive cooperation, and joint efforts, while apart from holding the Oman-Iran Joint Consular Committee, we witnessed a written message from the Sultan of Oman to the new President of Iran in December 2024 regarding bilateral relations.

In addition, the meeting of the Omani Foreign Minister with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament in December 2024, as well as the meeting of the Foreign Minister with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in March 2025, indicates the breadth of common ground, the circle of consultations, and meetings of officials in the field of bilateral and multilateral regional and international issues.

The extensive volume of political and diplomatic meetings is also notable. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi considers Oman-Iran relations based on friendship, mutual respect, and cooperation on many issues that unite the two friendly countries.

Tehran has repeatedly appreciated the constructive role of the Sultanate of Oman in promoting regional stability and deepening bilateral and international cooperation.

The lack of conflicting approaches between the two countries on important regional and international issues, such as the Yemeni crisis, is also an opportunity for greater multidimensional cooperation between the two countries.

In the meantime, the recent agreement between the two countries to intensify diplomatic efforts and strengthen constructive dialogue to confront the challenges facing the region, focusing on finding sustainable solutions to regional conflicts based on respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in internal affairs is important and strategic.

Iran and Oman have always agreed to develop relations, use capacities, and create opportunities, and economic and trade relations, along with political relations and strategic consultations, have enjoyed significant growth. Trade between the two countries will show significant growth in 2024, and by the end of 2024, there were 6,511 companies with Iranian participation in Oman, an increase of 73.3 percent.

In January 2025, the Oman-Iran Joint Committee held its 21st meeting in Muscat on strengthening cooperation in the economic, investment, and cultural fields, chaired by the ministers of Oman and Iran in Muscat.

In fact, the expansion of multidimensional discussions, drafts, and agreements on investment, trade facilitation, special economic zones, free zones, air transport areas, airports, direct shipping lines, energy, minerals, agricultural wealth, and water resources are among the very important opportunities for relations.

Iran’s plans and Oman’s Vision 2040, new and expanding ports, and the potential for logistics and transport cooperation in the North-South corridor have kept the role of transit prominent in cooperation. Also, the expansion of energy-based cooperation in the supply of natural gas from Iran to Oman, participation in energy and gas projects, and a joint petrochemical project will create new cooperation.

Outlook

there have been and will be differences in political and geopolitical views, such as the way Oman views Israel in the past few decades, sanctions and banking issues are also major obstacles to the development of trade relations between the two countries. But it seems that relations have become more solid based on trust, friendship, good neighborliness and strong ties.

In fact, consultations, expansion of economic cooperation, annual exchange of more than 80 political and economic delegations, presence of more than 25 thousand Iranians in Oman, increase in flights and foreign trade volume of about 2.5 billion dollars, and deepening people-to-people contacts are fundamental steps in future developing relations.

Therefore, in the perspective of access to the development of political, and diplomatic relations and even strategic partnerships between the two countries, it will be easier.

Farzad Bonesh ‒ geopolitical and geoeconomic analyst, researcher and writer