IRAN & OMAN

Oman, which sees Saudi Arabia as more dangerous than Iran.

Oman has strong ties to the West.

But it wants to be friends with Iran.

During the Iran–Iraq War, Oman remained neutral.

On 10 January 2011, we read that Oman is to increase cooperation with Iran.

(Omani King: Cooperation with Iran Boosts Regional Stability‎ )

Oman

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Oman and Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz, the entrance to the Persian Gulf, is a major oil shipping route.

Iran and Oman signed a security agreement in August 2009.

In August 2010, Iran and Oman signed an agreement to further boost mutual cooperation in the field of defense.


Omani by cinderea

According to the New York Times (Oman Navigates Between Iran and Arab Nations - NYTimes.com), "Oman, like Syria and Qatar, sees in Iran an important political and economic ally that is too powerful and too potentially dangerous to ignore, let alone antagonize.

"Even the United Arab Emirates, which is battling with Iranian leaders over the title to three Persian Gulf islands, has done little to stop billions of dollars in annual trade with Iran...

"Many people in Muscat said that they saw the ultraconservative Saudi Arabian approach to Islam as more of a danger to Omani interests, and stability, than Iranian activities in the region.

"Oman is a Muslim state, but 75 percent of the population is affiliated with a conservative sect called Ibadism. Over the years Saudi religious figures have tried to spread their more fundamentalist views in Oman."