In Geopolitics Today - Thursday, July 29th
Saudi Arabia Working to Improve Ties with Oman and Iranian Statements Point to Continued Disagreements on JCPA
Saudi Arabia Working to Improve Ties with Oman
A recent visit to Saudi Arabia by Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, signals that Saudi Arabia and Oman are taking steps to improving mutual relations. Recently, relations between the countries were complicated by a few points of contention, namely issues such as Oman’s relationship with Iran and the manner Saudi campaign in of Yemen. That the meeting is the first visit abroad by Oman’s new Sultan Haitham bin Tariq is an indication that the bilateral relationship is important to Muscat.
One factor influencing the drive to improve bilateral relations on both sides is the similar economic challenges that both countries are facing. Their economic situation has experienced a drastic downturn due to the ongoing pandemic, further compounded by the fall in oil prices following widespread travel restrictions. As both economies are heavily reliant on hydrocarbon resources, both Riyadh and Muscat understand that regional diversification away from oil and into private sector enterprises will be necessary in order to secure the long-term survival of both states. In this regard, both states interests’ overlap.
Of the two, Oman is in a far worse economic situation, and this high-level visit suggests that boosting trade and attracting investment from Saudi Arabia is a top priority for leaders in Muscat. Deeper economic integration between the two countries will help Oman make better use of its unique position on the Arabian Peninsula with investments in trade infrastructure which serves the efficient transport of goods both on land and on sea.
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Iranian Statements Point to Continued Disagreements on JCPA
In a recent meeting of the Iranian Cabinet, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei evaluated the outgoing President Rouhani’s performance, and surmised it as an “uneven” one. Khamenei, in communicating guidance for Iranian government going forward, expressed that the domestic affairs of Iran cannot be “conditional on the West.”
Remarking on the current negotiations over the reestablishment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) agreement in Vienna, Khamenei noted that the United States has so far acted “completely cowardly and maliciously” and that the US “stood firm on their stubborn positions.” Khamenei revealed that a particular point of disagreement in the negotiations is that Washington wants a clause in the agreement requiring Iran to enter negotiations over its missile programs.
United States is also said to have refused the opportunity to exist the nuclear deal again if it so wished. The JCPA negotiations are set to resume on the same day that the new Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, takes his office.
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