Iran’s Visit to Oman: An Omen of Things to Come? | Critical Analysis |Axisoflogic.com

Editor's Comment: Oman and Iran are planning to build a causeway linking the two countries over the strait of Hormuz according to Ali Akbar Sibeveih, the Iranian ambassador to Muskat. On March 7, 2014, the Iranian ambassador announced the plan to build the overpass over the Strait of Hormuz, bridging Iran and Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman

Sibeveih said the purpose of the project is to build a bridge of “peace and friendship" between Iran and Oman along with other GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council). The GCC currently includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, KSA, UAE and Yemen. He said the project will connect Iran economically with the GCC countries and Yemen, through Oman.

In his report below, Dallas Darling provides a wealth of information and a well-reasoned analyis of the positive relations Iran has been building with surrounding nations for economic and political stability in the region.

- Les Blough, Editor
Axis of Logic

Situated on opposite sides of the ever shifting Arabian Plate, and sometimes treacherous and volatile Strait of Hormuz, it appears Iran’s recent visit to Oman is an omen of things to come. Along with a bright future for the two nations, the meeting is a prophetic sign of geopolitical shifting consisting mainly of cooperation. But not only does geographical determinism entail a kind of connectivity between Omanis and Iranians, there is a shared linkage between their political, economic, and cultural histories and values.

At the conclusion of yet another visit between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, a statement was issued detailing major bilateral, regional, and international agreements. Both stressed the need to improve cultural and economic cooperation, along with political and security concerns to help bring about a more sustainable peace and security in the region. Policies of moderation and rationalism were also approved, including a commitment to fight extremism and violence.

One of the most important choke-points in the annals of geography, the Strait of Hormuz has been straddled by Oman and Iran for thousands of years. Located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, the strait has been the site of enormous trading advantages and repeated naval clashes. Because of this, Iran and Oman have had to either expel or endure a number of nations and empires, like Portugal, Dutch, French, British, and, in more modern times, the United States and surrounding Persian Gulf States.

It is no surprise that Oman is starting to work more closely with Iran. Years ago, Oman helped start the Gulf Cooperation Council, wanting to establish an integrated Persian Gulf Army to deal with regional conflicts. It has also pursued an independent foreign policy based on close cooperation with its Arab allies and the West, being the only nation to have endorsed Egypt’s peaceful overtures with Israel. Even during the U.S.-Iraqi and U.S.-Iran Wars, Oman still reached out to its adjacent Persian Gulf neighbors.

Iran too is becoming a major pivotal nation in the Persian Gulf region. Along with establishing a number of trade deals with surrounding nations, even helping to construct oil pipelines and becoming a major supplier, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin just spoke with Iran, so as to explain his actions in Ukraine. President Putin also expressed his appreciation of Tehran’s “constructive approach” in talks with its nuclear enrichment program, including continued bilateral cooperation against the war on terror.

Economically, Oman and Iran compliment each other. Since Oman has a limited supply of oil, it has had to diversify its economy. Fishing, agriculture, mining for copper, gold and chromite, even tourism, has allowed it to become a center of international trade and commerce. At the same time, Iran has sought international investments in textiles, construction materials, food processing, metals, and weapons manufacturing. Iran is also the sixth largest oil producer and exporter of petroleum, something Oman is in need of.

As for politics, culture, and religion, both nations long for a return to traditional Islam, albeit different sects, seeing no difference between mosque and state. With the onslaught of foreign nations wanting to aggressively expand secularism and market economies, and with the unpredictability of Arab Awakenings, some turning into civil wars, Islam is still an important source for cultural and political stability. Spiritual leaders are still valued, as are more conservative values and moderate approaches to policy making and the future.

But just as there are choke-points on water, there are sticking points on land. Due to oil revenues, and at the encouragement of imperial, aggressive international powers, Persian Gulf States have procured vast quantities of modern weapons. International and interstate conflicts have been somewhat common. And since much of the world’s oil flows through the Hormuz Strait, it will continue to be a volatile region where the politics of oil security reigns supreme, and where imperial ambitions are difficult to strangle.

Since 1980, Oman has had a defense agreement with the U.S., becoming increasingly enmeshed in its strategic plans for projecting force in the region. Access to Omani military installations, emergency landing rights, and the authority to preposition military hardware at Omani Storage facilities, has caused Iran grave concern. So too has the Musandam facility, a military base near the Strait of Hormuz that the U.S. has used to spy with, monitoring Iran‘s every move. Will a fusion of Omaniization and Iranianization change this scenario?

With Oman’s backing of Tehran’s nuclear talks with the Group 5+1 until a final agreement is reached, and a $1-billion deal to build a pipeline to export gas to Oman from Iran, Oman’s northern peninsula, Musandam, and Iran’s Qeshm Island, which are only a few miles apart in the Hormuz Strait, are turning into a cape of good hope and an isle of promise. While inviting the Sultanate to visit Iran, Iran pledged to support Oman if any border conflicts with Saudi Arabia and Yemen happen to reoccur.

Ubar, an ancient city in Oman, had been buried under sand dunes for centuries until rediscovered in 1944. Archaeologists found the remains of watchtowers, city walls, earthenware pots, and houses built almost 5,000 years ago. It had been a major trading station on the Silk Road until 300 CE, before declining in importance and being abandoned. The term Iran means “noble people.” Oman and Iran are uncovering their rich and diverse heritages, omens of another Golden Age of peace and prosperity.

No longer can Oman be viewed as the basement of the Arabian Peninsula. Nor Iran a colonized, backward outpost of south central Asia. Together, and by expanding their security treaties and trade commitments, by strengthening their cultural and religious values in combating a chaotic market system and terrorism, and by making alliances with other Persian Gulf States, they could even help form a United Persian Gulf States with its own integrated and harmonious geo-political, -economical, -military, and -cultural values.

Wouldn’t a safe and peaceful Strait of Hormuz, governed by the United Persian Gulf States, be a welcomed omen of things to come?

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John‘s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for World News. Read more of Dallas’ writings at his website and at World News.

*Source for Axis of Logic commentary Gulf State Business