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Full Article Images of February Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Dozens arrested at Occupy's 6-month anniversary rally 1:47am EDT UPDATE 1-Chevron executives barred from leaving Brazil over spill 17 Mar 2012 Oman warns on military confrontation with Iran 10:19am EDT "Man vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls fired by TV network 14 Mar 2012 Blast hits Aleppo; clashes and protests across Syria | 12:02pm EDT Discussed 151 Exclusive: U.S., Britain to agree emergency oil stocks release 128 Sixteen Afghan civilians killed in rogue U.S. attack 124 UPDATE 4-Obama defends energy policies amid gas price pain Watched Soccer star critically ill Sat, Mar 17 2012 NASA images show Aurora Borealis over North America. Sat, Mar 17 2012 Kate celebrates St Patrick's Day with Irish Guards Sat, Mar 17 2012 Oman warns on military confrontation with Iran Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Powers urge Iran to open army site to IAEA inspectors Fri, Mar 9 2012 Powers to Iran: open army site to nuclear inspectors Thu, Mar 8 2012 France says Iran "two-faced", skeptical talks can succeed Wed, Mar 7 2012 Obama says new Iran talks should calm "drums of war" Tue, Mar 6 2012 Netanyahu tells Obama: No Israeli decision on Iran attack Tue, Mar 6 2012 Analysis & Opinion The time for talks in Syria has passed Betting on a strike on Iran? Related Topics World » United Nations » Oman's leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said attends the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha December 3, 2007. Credit: Reuters/Fadi Al-Assaad By Martina Fuchs MUSCAT | Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:19am EDT MUSCAT (Reuters) - Oman, located strategically on the opposite side of the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, said the risk of military conflict between Tehran and the West was rising but there was still plenty of opportunity to negotiate peace. Iran has repeatedly denied charges by Western nations it is developing the capability to build nuclear weapons, but the United States and European Union have recently imposed tougher sanctions in an effort to convince Tehran to curb its nuclear program. "It is in the interest of both sides to come to the middle road," Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the sultanate's minister responsible for foreign affairs, told Reuters at the Foreign Ministry in Muscat. "We can see that the threat of an unfortunate flash of military confrontation is more possible rather than it is remote." Oman on several occasions has acted as an intermediary between Iran and the West. Last year, Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said facilitated the release of two U.S. hikers held by Tehran for spying, and three French aid workers held hostage by Yemeni tribesmen were freed in November after Oman negotiated their release. Speculation has grown in recent months that Israel, with or without U.S. support, may launch some form of pre-emptive military strike against Iranian nuclear installations, which the Jewish state sees as a threat to its existence. Talks over its nuclear program have been on and off over the years, but last week Iran said it would welcome a new round of nuclear negotiations with six world powers. Iran spooked oil markets in late December when it threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of global oil exports pass, if there were any military strikes against the country or its nuclear facilities. Asked about the risk of a Western military strike on Iran, Abdullah said: "Still there is time, but not long, to seize opportunities where the six (powers) and Iran can meet at a middle road to find a solution to this conflict." He said there was also a risk Western concerns over Iran's nuclear program could get out of hand, and called for more focus on establishing facts on the ground. In office since 1982, Abdullah said Oman was doing its best to secure the Strait of Hormuz, through which an average of 14 crude oil tankers pass each day. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, regularly patrols Gulf waters and frequently passes through the strait. "We are doing our best to keep this waterway open for the benefit of international trade and flow of energy to the rest of the world," Abdullah said. "But there is no guarantee, once the situation is broken, we cannot offer alternatives." QUIET BROKER Wearing a traditional curved silver dagger in his belt, a white robe and a "massar" (turban) with golden embroidery, Abdullah said Oman would continue to offer its services as a regional broker. Sultan Qaboos, a U.S. ally who has governed Oman since he unseated his father in a palace coup in 1970, ended a former isolationist foreign policy and established Oman's role as an active regional and international player. In 1971, Oman joined the United Nations and the Arab League. "Because we are maintaining a good relationship with both sides (Iran and the West), when we feel there is an opportunity to give an advice for both sides, we do so," Abdullah said. "We understand the concern of the international community, and we also understand the view of the Iranian government." During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88), the two sides conducted ceasefire talks secretly in Muscat. Similarly, after 1988 Oman acted as mediator in the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Britain and Iran and Saudi Arabia. (Reporting by Martina Fuchs; Editing by Sophie Hares) World United Nations Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. 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