Oman's Foreign Minister Accuses Israel of Sabotaging Iran Nuclear Deal and Dragging US into War
Oman's foreign minister has delivered a scathing indictment of US foreign policy, alleging that Israel manipulated the Trump administration into launching a catastrophic war against Iran, just as a comprehensive nuclear agreement was within reach. In a remarkable article published in the Economist, Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the recent nuclear talks, asserted that the United States has "lost control of its own foreign policy" and made a "grave miscalculation" by heeding Israeli pressure.
A Shock but Not a Surprise: The Attack That Derailed Diplomacy
Albusaidi described the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran on 28 February as a devastating blow to peace efforts. "It was a shock but not a surprise when on 28 February – just a few hours after the latest and most substantive talks – Israel and America again launched an unlawful military strike against the peace that had briefly appeared really possible," he wrote. The attacks occurred mere days after negotiations in Geneva had, according to the minister, brought Iran and the US to the "verge of a real deal."
These talks, characterized as highly substantive, saw significant concessions from Iran. Sources indicate that Iranian negotiators agreed to reduce and pause uranium enrichment and even offered the US participation in a future civil nuclear programme. In return, Iran sought the lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of assets. A final round of negotiations was scheduled for Vienna the following week, but diplomacy was abruptly overtaken by warfare.
Oman's Unique Stance and the Gulf's Diplomatic Efforts
Among Gulf nations, Oman has been the most vocal and proactive in attempting to avert a US-led war with Iran. While other states, including the UAE and Qatar, also worked diligently on diplomatic solutions and warned the Trump administration of the region's devastation, Oman has increasingly distinguished itself with its blunt criticism. The sultanate has accused the US of acting as a proxy for Israeli interests, fundamentally undermining international law.
"Oman's view is that the military attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel are illegal and that for as long as they continue to pursue hostilities, those states that launched this war are in breach of international law," Albusaidi stated in comments to reporters last Thursday. He further argued that the US is intent on causing irreversible damage to international legal frameworks to help Israel reorder the Middle East to its advantage.
The US Negotiating Team and International Assessments
The American delegation at the Geneva talks consisted of Donald Trump's special envoy, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Notably, the team reportedly brought no nuclear experts, relying instead on high-profile but inexperienced envoys. This approach contrasted sharply with the progress noted by other observers.
The Guardian revealed this week that the UK's national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, who attended the final stages of the nuclear talks, shared a similar assessment. Powell was reportedly surprised by the significant advancements toward a permanent, substantive nuclear deal and believed it sufficient to prevent war between the two sides.
Albusaidi's Damning Analysis and Call for Peace
In his article, Albusaidi placed blame squarely on "Israel's leadership" for persuading Trump to join the war based on the false premise that Iran's regime would offer "unconditional surrender" following the assassination of its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. "The American administration's greatest miscalculation, of course, was allowing itself to be drawn into this war in the first place," he wrote. "This is not America's war, and there is no likely scenario in which both Israel and America will get what they want from it."
He described the conflict and its severe impact on the Gulf region, which has borne the brunt of Iran's retaliation, as a "catastrophe." Neither side, he noted, shows any willingness to negotiate. Albusaidi called for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to bilateral negotiations, warning that achieving Israel's objectives would require a prolonged military campaign necessitating American ground troops, thereby opening a new front in the "forever wars" Trump once vowed to end.
Netanyahu's Denial and the Ongoing Conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently denied orchestrating US involvement in the war. Late on Thursday, he told reporters, "Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?" Despite this denial, the war continues with no clear resolution in sight, exacerbating regional instability and validating Oman's dire warnings.
As the conflict drags on, Oman's forthright condemnation highlights a growing rift within the Gulf, challenging the traditionally unwavering support for the US, the region's closest ally. Albusaidi's unprecedented public critique underscores the profound disillusionment with a foreign policy he views as hijacked by Israeli interests, leading to a preventable and devastating war.
