Omani Foreign Minister Badr al‑Busaidi has renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying diplomatic "off‑ramps" remain to de‑escalate the conflict between Iran and US‑Israeli forces. Oman, which had been mediating US‑Iran talks and said peace was "within reach," has been affected after drone strikes hit Duqm port. Regional actors, including Qatar, condemned the attack and urged protection of mediation channels.
Oman Urges Immediate Ceasefire, Says Diplomatic 'Off‑Ramps' Remain in Iran Conflict
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi gives a thumbs up as he leaves a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland [File: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP]
Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr al‑Busaidi, who helped mediate talks between Washington and Tehran before the recent escalation, renewed a public push for diplomacy on Tuesday, saying there are still practical options to de‑escalate the region.
“Oman reaffirms its call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to responsible regional diplomacy. There are off‑ramps available. Let’s use them,”
Al‑Busaidi posted the appeal on X but did not outline specific measures or negotiating steps that might end the current confrontation between Iran and joint Israeli and US forces.
Diplomatic Efforts Frayed As Violence Escalated
Oman had been mediating direct talks between Iran and the United States and had said peace was “within reach” hours before reported US‑Israeli air strikes began on Saturday, plunging the region into a new crisis.
US President Donald Trump told reporters in Washington that the United States struck Iran because “he had a feeling” Tehran might act first amid stalled nuclear negotiations. Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reported to have said Washington had acted because it believed Israel might strike Iran and that Tehran could then target US facilities in the region. These assertions were presented as the administrations' public explanations for the strikes.
Al‑Busaidi pushed back on characterizations that Iran posed an immediate threat to the United States, saying that “significant progress” had been made in the nuclear talks before the strikes began and stressing the need to return to diplomacy.
Oman Drawn Into the Wider Confrontation
In retaliation, Iran has reportedly attacked Israeli and US forces across the Gulf. Although Oman does not host US troops, it has been affected by spillover violence. The Oman News Agency reported that Duqm commercial port in Al Wusta Governorate was struck by two drones on Sunday, injuring one expatriate worker. Officials later said a fuel tank at Duqm was hit in a separate drone attack on Tuesday; no casualties were reported in that incident.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed al‑Ansari, condemned the strike on Oman as “an attack on the very principle of mediation.” US officials reiterated solidarity with Gulf partners: “Iran is hitting countries that had nothing to do with what is going on,” President Trump said on Tuesday.
With the fighting spreading and mediation channels under strain, Oman continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and for regional actors to use available diplomatic "off‑ramps" to prevent further escalation.
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