Muscat: Speaking to the Financial Times, His Excellency stressed that “Western powers have a moral obligation” to not only persuade but enforce restrictions on Israel to curb what he described as aggression in the region.

He criticized the failure of the United States and other influential countries to effect a meaningful ceasefire or revive diplomatic negotiations, stating that despite efforts to persuade Israel, the conflict continues unabated. He further warned against viewing Iran as a hostile power solely due to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s agenda, cautioning that no other nation should adopt this stance.

The Omani foreign minister emphasized that traditional, unconditional support for Israel by Western powers—rooted in Cold War-era dynamics—should be re-evaluated. He pointed to recent moves by France and the United Kingdom to limit arms sales as a peaceful yet effective means of applying pressure. His Excellency argued that groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas are not the root cause of instability in the region, underlining the importance of addressing underlying political issues and advocating for peace-based solutions.