Iran’s engagement needed for regional de-escalation, world peace: Omani FM

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi has highlighted Iran’s influential position in the West Asia region, saying the Islamic Republic’s engagement for de-escalation and bringing peace to the whole world is “very important” and a “prerequisite.”

Busaidi said to reduce the likelihood of a conflict in the region everyone must be engaged.

“Iran is part of the region, and I think engaging with all the regional countries is a very important element, a prerequisite for de-escalation and for bringing a common goal of peace for the whole world,” he said in an interview with CNN television news channel broadcast on Monday.

He underlined that both Israel and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas have to be “part of the solution” to de-escalate tensions as well.

The Omani foreign minister also drew a connection between the Yemeni Armed Forces’ pro-Palestine operations against Israeli-affiliated commercial vessels in the Red Sea and unrelenting atrocities in Gaza.

“I believe there is a very strong connection. In fact, it’s the only connection between what’s going on in the Red Sea and what’s going on in Gaza. If we stop the war in Gaza, we will de-escalate tension everywhere.”

He added that by “recognizing the connection” between the developments in Palestine and Gaza and what is happening in the Red Sea, the freedom of navigation will be resumed in the key waterway.

Iran, Oman urge call for immediate end to Israel's genocide in Gaza

Iran and Oman urge Muslim countries to make collective efforts to put an immediate end to Israel

The top Omani diplomat asserted Muscat denounces Israel’s onslaught in Gaza, urging an end to the atrocities in the besieged coastal sliver.

“We are not supporting the Israeli actions. We want those actions stopped. We want the atrocities stopped everywhere. [...] We cannot simply expect the continuation of these atrocities in Gaza to continue, and witness it without lifting a finger on Israel,” Busaidi added.

Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based resistance movements on October 7, 2023, at least 31,819 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israel's indiscriminate bombardment of the territory. Thousands more are feared dead under the rubble. 

The Israeli military offensive has left a trail of destruction in Gaza, leaving hospitals in ruins and displacing more than 85 percent of its 2.3 million population.

Israel has also enforced a “total siege” on the Gaza Strip, blocking the entry of fuel, food, and other much-needed aid to the territory, pushing Gazans to the verge of a man-made famine.

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