Oman Proposes Non-Aggression Pact Among Eight Gulf States

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi proposed a regional security framework and a non-aggression pact involving the eight states bordering the Gulf, including Iran, Iraq, and the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Speaking at Girton College at the University of Cambridge, Al Busaidi argued that regional nations must assume greater responsibility for their own collective security to end long-term reliance on external powers.

Al Busaidi asserted that any security arrangement excluding Iran is "inherently unstable" and "structurally unsound," maintaining that a non-aggression pact should remain the primary goal regardless of current diplomatic relations. He emphasized that such a framework is a pragmatic necessity rather than a reflection of whether nations are friendly or hostile toward Tehran.

Addressing maritime stability, Al Busaidi noted that restoring free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz requires a pragmatic understanding between the United States and Iran. He stated that while previous nuclear talks showed significant progress, the implementation of current navigation arrangements depends on the willingness of both Washington and Tehran to compromise and resolve political obstacles.