Just as Qatar was never an honest neutral mediator between Israel and Hamas, Oman is acting in the same dishonest role as a “meditator” between Iran and the Houthis.
Let’s be honest. Oman doesn’t stand between Iran and the Houthis. It stands with them.
Here are some of the facts:
•For years, Oman ignored and allowed Iranian arms smuggling into Yemen via Omani territorial waters.
•Senior Houthi leaders live and operate openly from within Oman.
•Oman’s Grand Mufti publicly praised the Houthi “resistance.”
•Oman and the IRGC conduct joint military drills, maintain a standing military coordination committee, and actively collaborate on maritime control.
This isn’t diplomacy. It’s alignment.
This isn’t neutrality. It’s a strategic partnership under a diplomatic cloak.
Their bond runs deep.
Back in the 1970s, during the Dhofar Rebellion, Iran (under the Shah) sent troops to save Oman’s monarchy. Since then, Oman has viewed Iran not just as a regional power, but as a long-term guarantor of regime stability.
And it’s still happening today:
•High-level meetings between Omani and Iranian military officials on expanding cooperation.
•Joint discussions on control and “regional maritime stability”: code words for securing shipping routes while keeping Houthi lanes open.
•A clear link to Houthi activity in the Red Sea, southern Saudi Arabia, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Oman controls the strait of Hormuz and is playing a key-role in the IRGC smuggling route to the Houthis, Iraq, Hezbollah and previously to Syria during the Assad regime.
The U.S. formally requested Oman to expel senior Houthi figures from its territory, a quiet yet pointed sign of growing mistrust in Oman’s so-called neutrality.
But the world says nothing. Why? Because Oman plays the game well:
It doesn’t fire weapons. It “hosts,” “facilitates,” “opens dialogue.” Just like Qatar.
And while all eyes remain fixed on Qatar, Oman has quietly positioned itself as a central player with outsized influence and zero accountability.
It doesn’t need to pull the trigger. The Houthis do that for them.
This is what real soft power looks like — with a hardened steel edge.
And Israel is paying the price.
So next time you hear about “de-escalation” or “Omani mediation” ask yourself who truly benefits from the time of the ceasefires?
This isn’t a ceasefire. It’s a strategic timeout for the Axis of Evil to regroup.
Barry Shaw, Israel Institute for Strategic Studies.