Oman’s Response to a Rising Iran: A Case of Strategic Hedging

Abstract No state in the Gulf region currently enjoys stable relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran except for the Sultanate of Oman, and Oman is the only Gulf state to have maintained friendly relations with Iran since the 1970s. This raises the question about how Oman manages to maintain its relationship with Iran, which is considered a regional rival. This article analyzes Oman’s foreign policy approach to Iran, arguing that its strategy of hedging has been the main pattern and the ultimate reason for the sustenance of the relationship. Oman’s hedging strategy towards Iran is mostly driven by pragmatic incentives to preserve security and achieve political stability.