Oman is out as Washington’s Iran backchannel. In under six weeks, the Gulf sultanate that once hosted every quiet U.S.–Iran contact lost its seat. Talks shifted to Islamabad. The Serena Hotel hosted round one on April 11–12, 2026; twenty hours of hard bargaining produced a ceasefire that Pakistan then pushed to extend. A second round may follow within hours or days.

This was not about bias—it was about physics and power. Oman’s model—favoritism towards Iran while preaching “distance and neutrality”—collapsed under fire and humiliation. Iranian missiles hit Duqm and Salalah; oil storage burned. The self-styled “Switzerland of the Gulf” became a target the moment it doubled as U.S. logistics real estate.

Washington needed a channel outside the blast radius. It found one 1,200 miles east in a partner that can deliver short-term results.

Pakistan brings three assets Oman never had—and all three align with U.S. priorities:........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)