The Sultanate of Oman expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It reaffirmed its continued cooperation with the Agency and its Member States to achieve strategic objectives and strengthen the IAEA’s central role in the peaceful use of nuclear technology for development.

This was set out in Oman’s statement before the 70th session of the IAEA General Conference, held in Vienna, Austria. The statement was delivered by Faiza Saif Al Siyabi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the IAEA.

She also welcomed the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as a new member of the Agency.

The statement noted Oman’s interest in actively participating in the Atoms4Food initiative, the Global Water Analysis Laboratory (GloWAL) Network and initiatives using nuclear technology to preserve cultural heritage. Oman has also requested to participate in the 2027–2028 cycle of COMPASS, the initiative for SSACs and SRAs which supports systems for accounting for and controlling nuclear material.

It also reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to cooperating on technical cooperation programme projects for 2028–2029, focusing on food safety, the control of insect pests harmful to crops and the One Health approach.

Oman will also continue participating in the regional project on nuclear science and technology education within educational systems, as well as initiatives relating to the International Nuclear Science Olympiad and the International Academy of Nuclear Science and Technology.

In the statement, Oman announced that it will host a regional training course for Arab countries in West Asia on “Cyclotron Production of Radionuclides” in Muscat next November. It will also host a regional training course for GCC countries on “Genomics and Bioinformatics of Disease Vectors” in January 2027. The courses aim to build capacity and train technical personnel from participating countries.

The statement also noted that the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre, part of University Medical City, is seeking to become one of the IAEA’s key reference centres in the fields of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. It also highlighted the Centre’s continued accreditation by Joint Commission International for patient safety in June 2026.

The statement referred to the positive assessment by the IAEA’s Quality Assurance Team for Radiation Oncology following its review of the Centre in February, which commended the quality of its operations and expanding activities. It also announced that another team will soon assess the quality of radiotherapy services at the Royal Hospital as part of efforts to develop and modernise cancer diagnosis and treatment services.

Oman reaffirmed its longstanding position on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, regarding it as a cornerstone of the global disarmament architecture. It called for the full implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East and welcomed the sovereign decision taken by the Syrian Arab Republic to act with full transparency regarding the agreements to which it is a party.

Oman also affirmed that, through its presidency of the seventh session of the United Nations Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, it will continue to pursue a gradual and practical approach based on dialogue and consensus involving all parties. This approach will contribute to advancing development and prosperity for the peoples of the region and the world.