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Oman's stance puzzling,' Frmr. US ambassador tells ‘Post’ as Gulf state silent on Hormuz plans

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former US ambassador to Oman, Marc Sievers, called Oman's silence on joint administration of the Strait of Hormuz "puzzling."
  • Sievers stated that Oman's failure to confirm or deny Iran's claims about a joint mechanism has undermined its reputation with Washington.
  • The US has threatened sanctions against Oman if it cooperates with Iran on charging tolls in the vital waterway, a move that deviates from the consensus of other Gulf nations.

Former US Ambassador to Oman, Marc Sievers, expressed bewilderment at Oman's quiet stance regarding Iran's claims of a shared administration of the Strait of Hormuz. Sievers, who served as the US representative in Oman from 2016 to 2019, noted that while Iran has been promoting reports of joint Omani-Iranian control over the strait, Muscat has made no significant effort to either confirm or deny these assertions.

puzzling

— Marc SieversDescribing Oman's decision to allow rhetoric surrounding the shared administration of the Strait of Hormuz.

Last month, Iran launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which officials described as offering "specialized services" for a fee. Experts, however, interpret these services, which include navigational support and environmental fees, as a potential legal cover for imposing tolls on the crucial waterway, a move that could violate international law. Sievers believes Oman's silence on the matter has damaged its standing with Washington.

undermined their reputation

— Marc SieversExplaining the impact of Oman's silence on its relationship with Washington.

The Trump administration has recently warned Oman against cooperating with Iran on charging tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, with President Trump issuing a strong statement threatening sanctions. Sievers suggested Trump's rhetoric was likely intended to make a point rather than signal an imminent military action against Oman. Nevertheless, this has signaled a significant deterioration in US-Omani relations.

specialized services

— Ebrahim AziziChairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, describing the offerings of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Oman's position also contrasts with the general consensus among other Gulf nations. Despite regional divisions, these countries generally agree that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, free from restrictions, tolls, or discriminatory practices, and that guarantees against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks are necessary. Oman has also experienced fewer Iranian attacks compared to its neighbors, particularly the UAE, which maintains close ties with both the US and Israel.

blow up

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's reported threat towards Oman should it fail to 'behave' regarding cooperation with Iran.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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