Oman preserves friendly ties with both Iran and the West

The Omani ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said, was the first head of state to visit Iran after the controversial re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June. His discussions included a proposal for Iran to pump gas to the Gulf Arab state, some of which could be exported using Oman’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. At the same time, Oman is one of the longest-standing and most reliable allies of the West in the Middle East, and it is said to be close to finalising a major order to upgrade its air force with Eurofighter Typhoons.

Reports have resurfaced in the press that Oman is in discussions with the British government over the purchase of 24 Typhoon jets, with talk of an agreement being finalised within the next few months. Speculation about a possible deal has been rife for almost a year, but a report in a recent edition of the Gulf States Newsletter suggests that negotiations could be close to a conclusion. The Eurofighter Typhoon is built by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers, including the UK’s BAE Systems. …