Minister says dialogue the key to addressing challenges

Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi took part in the opening session of the 4th Tehran Dialogue Forum, held under the patronage of President Masoud Pezeshkian of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Forum was attended by a number of foreign ministers, senior officials, decision-makers and thinkers from across the region and the world, as well as representatives from regional and international organisations.

Sayyid Badr took part at the invitation of the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr Abbas Araghchi.

In his remarks to the Forum, Oman's Foreign Minister underlined the importance the Sultanate attaches to its bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also praised the flexibility, precision and candour that Dr Araghchi brings to Iran’s contributions in both regional and international dialogues.

Sayyid Badr underlined the importance of dialogue as a fundamental tool for addressing challenges. He reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to this essential path of dialogue, including with those with whom there are deep differences, regardless of the difficulties.

He placed particular emphasis on the Palestinian cause, describing the violence and genocide inflicted on the Palestinian people as a global tragedy that should never have happened — one that could have been prevented had opportunities for dialogue been seized. He referred to the repeated refusal of successive Israeli governments to engage in meaningful dialogue with Palestinian representatives, as well as the international community's failure to exert effective influence.

Sayyid Badr expressed optimism regarding recent signals, particularly from the United States, which he said may reflect a shift towards a more realistic and flexible approach to identifying viable dialogue partners. He noted that while this development comes amid military escalation and immense humanitarian suffering, it points to a renewed willingness for genuine dialogue — even as Tel Aviv continues to avoid it through intensifying conflict on multiple fronts.

Oman's Foreign Minister underlined that dialogue is not an easy option, but added that it is the only viable path to achieving a just settlement. He cited what he described as the “horrific lesson” embodied by the tragedy of Gaza, when the courage to speak to the other is absent.

He concluded his remarks by expressing the hope that the Tehran Forum will help draw in more voices committed to dialogue and strengthen the international conviction that solutions are built not through force, but through understanding and openness.

The Forum discussed the role of regional countries in the changing global order. It also reviewed key shared challenges in politics, economics and energy, while exploring ways to strengthen multilateral cooperation mechanisms to confront international crises amid accelerating geopolitical shifts.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.