Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who previously mediated talks between the US and Iran before the war escalated, has said that diplomatic options remain "available" to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Al Jazeera reported on March 4.

In a post on X, al-Busaidi reiterated Oman’s longstanding position, calling for an immediate ceasefire and urging a return to responsible regional diplomacy. "There are off-ramps available. Let’s use them," he said.

However, al-Busaidi did not specify what diplomatic avenues could be pursued to resolve the tensions between Iran and the joint forces of Israel and the US. 

Oman had been playing a key role in mediating talks between the two nations, and just hours before the US-Israeli airstrikes began on February 28, the country had expressed optimism, stating that peace was "within reach."

The situation took a dramatic turn when US President Donald Trump said earlier that the US had attacked Iran after "having a feeling" that Iran would strike first, citing stalled negotiations over its nuclear program. 

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the decision to strike was based on the belief that Israel was about to bomb Iran, and that Tehran would then retaliate by targeting US facilities in the region.

Al-Busaidi, however, pushed back against the Trump administration’s characterisation of Iran as an "imminent threat." He noted that "significant progress" had been made in the nuclear negotiations before the airstrikes began.

In response, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US forces across the Gulf. While Oman does not host any US military forces, it has been drawn into the conflict, suffering strikes amid the escalating violence.