How Qatar Replaced Oman in the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Policy

By Faramarz Davar

As Oman’s role as mediator between Iran and the West, particularly the US, has declined over the past decade, Qatar has expanded its influence over Tehran, increasing Iran’s dependence on Doha.

This article explores how Qatar stepped in to fill the gap left by Oman’s mediation and assumed its position in diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic.

In December 2015, after Saudi Arabia executed a Shia cleric, students aligned with Supreme Leader Khamenei attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran, leading Saudi Arabia to cut diplomatic ties with Iran and call for collective action from Arab nations.

While countries like Bahrain cut ties and the UAE downgraded relations, Qatar maintained and strengthened its diplomatic relations with Tehran.

In a separate incident, when several Iranians were taken hostage by opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, then-Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi requested the Emir of Qatar to mediate their release.

Salehi later revealed that the Emir quickly used Al Jazeera to broadcast a message to the hostage-takers, leading to the swift release of the hostages, including a senior commander of the Quds Force commander, the overseas branch of the IRGC.

As the Islamic Republic faced complex challenges in its foreign relations, it gradually shifted its diplomatic priorities, favoring its growing relationship with Qatar while allowing its ties with Oman to decline.

Saudi Arabia: The Hostility That Brought Tehran and Doha Together

In 2018, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, closing air, sea, and land borders.

Despite its wealth, Qatar relies heavily on imports, leading to a food shortage during the blockade. With both countries isolated by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran grew closer.

In response, Iran dispatched five cargo planes loaded with food and essential supplies to Qatar, flying directly from Tehran to Doha's airport. This humanitarian effort allowed the Islamic Republic to take advantage of the diplomatic crisis, using it as an opportunity to strengthen its ties with a fellow Persian Gulf Arab nation.

Saudi Arabia cut ties with Qatar due to its close relationship with Iran, accusing Qatar of supporting terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which receive Iranian backing. Additionally, Qatar’s strengthened relationship with Iran, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival, contributed to the rift.

Qatar's ambitious foreign policy has its roots in the 1990s. Under the rule of Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar fundamentally shifted its regional approach. Before this period, Qatar had been seen as a marginal player in the Persian Gulf, focusing primarily on internal matters and relying on Saudi Arabia for security.

A New Actor Beyond the Persian Gulf

Amid Saudi Arabia’s growing dominance, Sheikh Hamad, then the Emir of Qatar and father of the current ruler, transformed Qatar into a strong yet adaptable nation, relying on its vast gas reserves. One of Qatar’s key gas resources is shared with Iran in the Persian Gulf. On the Iranian side, it is known as the South Pars gas field, while in Qatar, it is called the North Dome.

Long-standing tensions between the two countries over the shared resource were eventually resolved through Qatar’s diplomatic measures. Unlike other joint energy fields, Iran shares with neighboring countries, Iran and Qatar have maintained peaceful cooperation over this vital resource.

Another sign of Qatar's rising influence came amid friction between Iran and South Korea over billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue frozen in Seoul due to US sanctions. Qatar, acting as a mediator between Iran and the US, facilitated the transfer of nearly $6 billion in Iranian funds to Doha, to be monitored by the US for purchases of humanitarian goods like food and medicine.

Sheikh Hamad aimed to make Qatar a regional player. Signs of this ambition included the opening of the Taliban's political office in Doha while Afghanistan was still governed by the US-backed government and granting asylum to Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ political office, even during Hamas' conflict with Israel in Gaza.

These moves demonstrated Qatar’s intent to be a powerful actor in regional conflicts. Doha also became a safe haven for prominent figures like Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, the former Sheikh of Al-Azhar in Egypt, turning the city into more than just a political hub.

By creating a stable domestic environment, Sheikh Hamad diversified Qatar’s foreign alliances, pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy. When he handed power to his son, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the current Emir, he left behind a vision of a wealthy, stable nation on the southern bank of the Persian Gulf.

Qatar established strong relationships with countries as diverse as the United States, Iran, and Israel (unofficially), despite the lack of convergence between them. The US designated Qatar a major non-NATO ally, and at the same time, Iran positioned Qatar as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. These developments highlighted the effectiveness of Qatar’s foreign policy under its leaders.

January 2020: A Month of Major Losses for the Islamic Republic

January 2020 marked a pivotal and damaging moment in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran. During this time, the United States assassinated Qassem Soleimani, a top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a move that dealt a significant blow to Iran.

Shortly after, the IRGC attempted to cover up the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which had been struck by one of its missiles. The mishandling of the situation severely damaged the government’s credibility, even among its staunchest supporters.

The third setback was the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman. Sultan Qaboos had long maintained a favorable relationship with Iran, dating back to the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, when Iranian forces helped him quell an internal rebellion during the Dhofar War.

In recognition, Oman referred to Iranian soldiers who died in the conflict as "martyrs," and Ali Khamenei called Qaboos "one of the respectable figures of the region" and praised Oman as "a good and true neighbor" to the Islamic Republic.

The Sultan's death marked an irreplaceable loss for Iran, as he had played a key role in mediating secret discussions between Iranian and US officials, ultimately helping to broker the 2015 nuclear deal.

His successor, Haitham bin Tariq, attempted to continue Qaboos's legacy of diplomacy, even trying to mediate between Iran and the US, and between Iran and Egypt. However, his efforts fell short, and he was unable to maintain the same level of influence.

A Message to Tehran That Was Quickly Heard

At a time when the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council had weakened due to divisions between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE on one side, and Qatar on the other, Iran’s relationship with Oman also began to fade. With Sultan Qaboos gone, Oman no longer felt the same religious or historical obligation towards Iran. Gradually, Iran and Qatar grew closer.

Qatar, one of the smallest countries in the world but with significant influence in regional and global affairs, has since become one of Iran’s warmest diplomatic allies. Unlike Iran’s relationships with Russia, China, Syria, and Iraq - which are often characterized by Iran making concessions - its relationship with Qatar has been much more balanced and mutually beneficial.

After the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran - an event for which Iran had promised revenge - the Islamic Republic engaged in extensive propaganda, threatening military retaliation against Israel. Diplomatic efforts from other countries, including messages from the US, a call from Egypt’s foreign minister, and a visit from Jordan’s foreign minister, failed to de-escalate the situation.

The first diplomatic breakthrough came when Qatar’s foreign minister, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who also serves as the country’s prime minister, became the first foreign dignitary to visit Tehran following the appointment of Abbas Araghchi as Iran’s new foreign minister. During this visit, Al Thani advised against any military action against Israel, arguing that it would further destabilize the region.

Although Iranian officials had initially been adamant about responding to Israel with military force, they quietly scaled back their rhetoric and propaganda, abandoning the promise of revenge. The shift came in response to Qatar’s request, as it has effectively replaced Oman as Iran’s primary mediator in the region.

While Qatar still formally signs onto Persian Gulf Cooperation Council statements that include the UAE’s claims over the disputed three islands, its unique and significant role in Iran’s foreign relations remains. For now, Qatar has taken over Oman’s traditional place as a key diplomatic ally for the authorities in Tehran.