The Sultanate Shuffle: Why Covert Diplomacy is the Perpetual Endgame
FIRST INSTANCE: The Secret JCPOA Preludes The use of Oman as a neutral ground for US-Iranian talks gained significant public awareness during the lead-up to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. However, secret negotiations facilitated by Omani officials began as early as 2012 , under the Obama administration, well before formal diplomatic channels opened. These initial
discussions, held away from global scrutiny, were crucial in laying the groundwork for the nuclear deal, often involving then-Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and future Secretary of State John Kerry (Reuters, 2014). REPETITIONS: Perpetual Crises, Persistent Channels 2019: Following heightened tensions due to attacks on Saudi oil facilities and cargo ships in the Gulf, and the US withdrawal
from the JCPOA in 2018, Oman once again emerged as a crucial conduit. Reports indicated secret meetings in Muscat attempting to de-escalate the situation and prevent a wider regional conflict (Wall Street Journal, 2019). This wasn't about a new deal, but about managing the fallout from a broken one. 2021-2022: Even after the Biden administration expressed willingness to re-engage with Iran on the
nuclear deal, direct talks frequently stalled. Oman continued to host indirect discussions and mediate messages between the two sides, particularly concerning prisoner exchanges and unfreezing Iranian assets, effectively keeping alive a fragile line of communication when official diplomacy faltered (Bloomberg, 2022). Records show that Oman has facilitated over 10 significant indirect US-Iran