The Sultanate of Oman participated today (Sunday) via video conference in an extraordinary session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the ministerial level. The meeting discussed regional developments in light of the ongoing Israeli-American war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its serious repercussions for the region’s security and stability.

Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, headed the Omani delegation to the meeting. In his address, the Minister emphasised that the region is at a critical juncture due to the escalation of military operations and the prioritisation of force over dialogue and peace. He spoke of the political, economic, and security repercussions of this illegal war, which, he said, threaten the stability of the region and the safety of its people.

Sayyid Badr said that the Israeli-American attacks on Iran came at a time when negotiations were making progress as part of the diplomatic effort to reach a just and honourable solution.

The Minister also said that the Iranian response, which included targeting sites in several countries in the region, constitutes an attack on the sovereignty of these countries. He emphasised that the peoples of Arab and Islamic nations deserve to live in security and peace, and should not be drawn into a war that is not theirs. He reiterated Oman’s solidarity with its sister nations in the measures they take to defend themselves.

Sayyid Badr stressed that escalating rhetoric or merely issuing statements of condemnation and denunciation are insufficient to address the crisis or stop the war.

He said that the most effective approach lies in adhering to principles and working with a spirit of shared responsibility to protect the region’s higher interests. This can be achieved, he added, by intensifying political and diplomatic efforts and pressure and by returning to dialogue and diplomacy to address the root causes of the conflict.

To achieve this he also emphasised the importance of using the language of truth and adhering to human values ​​and principles as the foundation of Arab positions in confronting injustice and aggression, regardless of its source, even if it comes from a friendly or allied party.

The Minister noted the importance of capitalising on the recent statements of the Iranian President regarding de-escalation with neighbouring countries and the proposal for immediate negotiations to reach a binding non-aggression pact among the countries of the region, thus preventing them from being drawn into this conflict.

In his address, Sayyid Badr stressed the necessity of using all available diplomatic channels to persuade the United States and Israel that addressing international concerns related to Iran can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.

He warned that the continuation of hostilities would have serious repercussions for the region’s security and stability, as well as impacting maritime navigation, supply lines, and the global economy.

The Minister reiterated that the priority must be to intensify diplomatic and political efforts to find a peaceful solution to the root causes of this conflict, thereby preserving the region’s security and stability, and sparing its people the ravages of war.

Commenting on the meeting on the X social media platform the Minister later said the action taken by Israel and the US against Iran is both immoral and illegal.

“But the retaliation by Iran against its neighbours is also deeply regrettable and unacceptable. I call for restraint on all sides, a ceasefire, and an urgent return to diplomacy,” he added.