The Sultan of Oman, Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said, has become the first top ruler of the sultanate to travel on a state visit to China since the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries 48 years ago, in a particularly delicate context for Muscat, caught between the open confrontation between Iran and the United States and, in particular, in the strategic Strait of Hormuz that it shares with the Islamic republic.
Al Said was received this Monday by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to take part in a "ceremony of signing cooperation documents", according to the official Xinhua agency, centered on agreements on "energy, investment and high technology".
During the meeting, both leaders will address, above any other matter, the complex situation in Hormuz, marked by the close relationship between Beijing and Tehran and by the principle of understanding reached in mid-August between Oman and Iran on the transit routes in the strait, a pact that, in theory, was ratified about a month ago.
Even so, the tension in the area continues: the United States maintains its deployment and blockade in the surroundings and it is frequent for Iran to report "explosions" in tankers that cross the maritime passage by routes "not authorized" by Tehran, amid constant rumors about a possible resumption of the talks and the warnings of the U.S. president, Donald Trump, about a possible return to hostilities.