Asahi Shimbun: Oman to position self as Iran's gas broker if sanctions lifted

The Sultanate of Oman is positioning itself to broker Iran’s natural gas sales to the rest of the world, including Japan, if, and when, international sanctions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions are eased.

A preliminary accord was reached in November, whereby the United States, Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia agreed to ease sanctions on Iran for six months if Tehran agreed to temporarily freeze its nuclear program.

In a move seen by some as using great foresight, the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, signed a memorandum to lay an underwater pipeline across the Strait of Hormuz to Iran and to purchase $60 billion (6.3 trillion yen) worth of natural gas over 25 years from 2015.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Tehran in late August soon after Hassan Rouhani assumed Iran's presidency, and three months before Iran reached the preliminary sanctions-busting deal. MORE