Why Is Oman Mediating Negotiations for a Trump-Iran Nuclear Deal?
- Meir Javedanfar
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
On Saturday, April 12, 2025, representatives from the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran met in Oman for the first set of negotiations between the two nations in more than 10 years. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi played the role of host and mediator as negotiations were conducted in an indirect format.
During the talks, he shuttled back and forth between the rooms hosting the US and the Iranian team. The second round of talks is also set to take place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, although an earlier report said they would take place in Rome.
This is not the first time that Oman has played the role of mediator between Iran and the US. It was Omani mediation in 2011 that first brought the Obama administration and the Iranian regime together. This ultimately led to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. A 2015 article, published just after the JCPOA was ratified, called Oman “The Unsung Hero of the Iranian Nuclear Deal.”
Furthermore, Omani mediation in 2011 led to the release of three US hostages, after they were kidnapped from the Iran–Iraq border in 2009.
How has Oman carved such a crucial and successful role for itself as mediator between the Iranian regime and the US?
Oman’s historic relations with Iran
In 1962, Omani rebels launched a rebellion in the southern Dhofar region. Oman’s armed forces were weak. It only had a total force of 3,000 soldiers, who were mostly mercenaries. Iran's military support, commencing in 1973, combined with UK assistance, proved instrumental in defeating the rebellion by 1975. The Omani regime of Sultan Qaboos remained grateful to Iran's crucial assistance, both before and after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Oman’s independent foreign policy
Oman has always been known for its independent foreign policy stance. Oman was one of only two Arab countries, the other being Morocco, that did not sever ties with Egypt after the Camp David peace agreement
Additionally, since the revolution of 1979, Oman has had more stable relations with the Iranian regime than its neighbors. Oman, unlike other Gulf states, refrained from recalling its ambassador to Iran following the January 2016 attacks against the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
Oman’s independent foreign policy stance is one of the major reasons why the Iranian regime has relied on Oman as a mediator.
Oman’s good relations with the US
The Omanis also enjoy good relations with the US. After the fall of the Shah in 1979, Oman played a key role in protecting US interests in the Persian Gulf
The two countries signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January 2009. The US Navy has a logistics center in Muscat, Duqm and Salalah in Oman. According to CENTCOM, “These centers provide logistics support and services to U.S. Navy vessels conducting operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.” The Iranian regime also enjoys close relations with Qatar.
So why does the Iranian leadership trust Oman more as a mediator than Qatar?
First, because comparatively, Iran and Oman enjoy a longer historic relationship.
Second, compared to Qatar, the US military presence in Oman is much smaller (Qatar hosts the biggest US base in the Middle East).
Third, Iran and Oman are not rivals in the region, in contrast with Qatar, which also rivals Iran for influence in the region.
Dr. Meir Javedanfar is an Iranian-Israeli lecturer, author, and commentator. He teaches various Iran-related courses at Reichman University in Herzliya, Israel.
His X handle @Meirja.