'This war is a disaster': Oman FM says Israel, not Iran, poses biggest threat to Gulf

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi has described the war on Iran as "a disaster," arguing that the conflict failed to achieve its stated objectives and instead exposed the need for a new regional security framework.

In an opinion piece published in the French newspaper Le Monde, Al Busaidi said the war lacked a United Nations mandate and had done little to improve security in West Asia.

Calls for rethink of regional security

Al Busaidi said the conflict should serve as a turning point for the Gulf, arguing that decades of regional security strategy had failed.

"Nevertheless, if it finally buries the myth of containment in the Gulf, then there is reason for hope: the emergence of a fairer, more realistic and more effective system, thus correcting nearly half a century of strategic errors," he wrote.

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He also called for a new security architecture that includes all Gulf countries, as well as Iran and Iraq.

'Biggest threats come from Israel'

The Omani foreign minister argued that the region's primary security challenges no longer originate from Iran but from Israel.

"Decisions made outside the Gulf, above all in Tel Aviv, have become a major source of instability," he wrote.

Stresses Strait of Hormuz security

Al Busaidi reiterated Oman's commitment to protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, saying Muscat has a responsibility as one of the countries bordering the strategic waterway.

He also highlighted Oman's longstanding role as a mediator between the United States and Iran, maintaining communication with both sides despite rising tensions.

Remarks come amid fresh attacks

His comments come as security concerns in the Gulf continue to grow. On Tuesday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a missile struck a tanker near the Omani fishing port of Limah, while crisis response firm MTI Network said a Norwegian tanker operated by Stolt Tankers had also come under attack off Oman's coast.