According to the statement, the parties made progress during the talks in Rome, which were mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. The statement said the goal of the agreement is "to ensure that Iran is entirely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, while maintaining its ability to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." The next round of talks is expected to take place in Muscat "in the coming days."

Despite the declared progress, significant gaps remain between the sides. On the eve of the Rome talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters about the "red lines" set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to the official, "Iran will never agree to dismantle its uranium enrichment centrifuges, to completely halt uranium enrichment, or to reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium below the levels agreed to in the 2015 accord."

Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Khamenei, stressed ahead of the meeting that Iran "is heading toward a balanced agreement, not surrender," and added that the Iranian delegation arrived in Rome "with full authority to achieve a comprehensive agreement based on nine principles," including "rejection of the Libya model" and "curbing disruptive actors (such as Israel)."

According to earlier reports this week, Iran presented the US with a three-phase plan. The proposal includes reducing uranium enrichment to 3.67% in the first stage, halting high-level enrichment and restoring International Atomic Energy Agency oversight in the second stage, and transferring excess uranium to a third country in the third stage, all in exchange for a phased lifting of sanctions.

Initially, the US side described the talks as "a very preliminary phase," intended to determine whether there were basic principles that justified launching full negotiations. The progress confirmed in the Omani statement indicates that both sides have found common ground to proceed, despite the significant remaining differences.

The progress in negotiations comes amid rising regional tensions and growing concern in Israel over Iran's nuclear program. The Omani statement emphasized that "only through dialogue and clear communication can we achieve a reliable and mutually understood agreement for the benefit of all parties involved."

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Nearly two weeks ago, phase one of the deal between Israel and Hamas concluded, with Israel halting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip several days after its completion. In response, on Friday, the Houthi leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, announced a "return to maritime operations against Israeli vessels" if aid is not allowed into Gaza within four days – meaning by Tuesday, March 11.

Since the completion of the first phase of the deal, intensive negotiations have been ongoing between the parties, with attempts to bridge the gaps between them, but at this stage it appears highly likely that fighting on the southern front is expected to resume. The latest Houthi threat refers to "only" maritime actions, but as the Houthis have declared in the past, if Israel resumes fighting in Gaza – they will resume attacking Israel. As a result, the Houthi threat to the country, which includes launching ballistic missiles, UAVs, and more – is back on the table.

Since the beginning of the war, there has been a new awareness in Israel and worldwide regarding the major terrorism financiers in the world, Qatar and Iran, but there is also one entity that manages to stay under the radar despite its support for the Houthis – Oman.

The Qatari game

In recent years, there has been a certain warming in relations between Oman and Israel.

In 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an official diplomatic visit to Oman, the first since 1996, where he met with then-Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said. This followed prolonged contact between the countries that began about 40 years earlier, mostly under the table.

In February 2023, Oman approved Israeli airlines to fly through its airspace, but canceled this approval with the outbreak of the current war. A few months before October 7, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi referenced the possibility of his country establishing relations with Israel, saying it was open to this but conditioned it on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Alongside the rapprochement with Israel, Oman maintains good and continuous relations with the Americans, with both countries maintaining security and intelligence cooperation. In 2022, US arms sales to Oman totaled about $3.5 billion (about 12.4 billion shekels).

The current Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, is considered a legitimate figure in the West and has even received official honors in Britain and Belgium (also in Austria and another honor in Britain, but these were before he was crowned Sultan).

Financial aid, weapons transfers, and connections with Iran

Parallel to its relations with the West, Oman plays a double game.

Since 2015, Oman has been providing the Houthis with a smuggling route for weapons and access to the international financial system. In 2017 and 2018, Burkan 2 ballistic missiles and UAVs were transferred to the Houthis through Oman, and in 2023, advanced military equipment was seized at the Oman-Yemen border, including support systems for UAVs and radar jamming devices, equipment that was reportedly intended for attacking ships in the Red Sea.

Economically, senior Houthi officials transfer funds, including US dollars, through banks in Oman, which have access to the international financial system.

Additionally, Oman provides a safe haven for senior Houthi officials, including Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam. These officials operate openly and unhindered from Oman. The Grand Mufti of Oman, Ahmed al-Khalili, even praised the Houthis, called Iran's missile attack on Israel in April last year "brave" and "a joyous matter," and expressed support for Hamas actions against Israel.

The connections between Oman and Iran highlight another problem, as official representatives of the ayatollah regime regularly visit Oman to meet with Houthi representatives. According to estimates, these meetings involve operational coordination between the Iranian octopus and one of its central arms, including the transfer of intelligence, targets, and more.

After the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Israel saw Oman as a partner in the fight against the "Shiite Crescent" and Iran's nuclear program. However, Israel faced some disappointment on this front, and according to documents leaked and published on WikiLeaks, former head of the Middle East Division, Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, described Oman as the most problematic country among Gulf states in its attitude toward Iran.

Alongside its relations with the Americans, Oman has economic interests with Iran. The latter is much stronger than Oman, and the two have shared economic interests, as they jointly control the Strait of Hormuz, through which more than 40% of global oil passes. In May 2023, Sultan Haitham visited Tehran, two days after Oman mediated a prisoner exchange deal between Iran and Belgium. Last April, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited the Omani capital, Muscat.

The Sultanate claims that they play an important role in American policy toward Tehran, including hosting the talks that led to the nuclear agreement during the Obama administration and mediating between the Biden administration and Iran in 2023. Since October 7, Muscat has served as a mediator maintaining contact with both sides and passing messages between them.

The Omanis are playing the Qatari game, just with a lower profile.

It is time to pick a side

For years, the White House has treated Oman with infuriating leniency and accepted its narrative that it hosts Houthi leaders to promote a solution to the civil war in Yemen.

Additionally, Houthi aggression in the Red Sea has severely damaged trade in the region for an extended period and has cost the Americans a significant amount of money, both directly and indirectly, including dedicating considerable military expenditures to deal with the threat.

Oman also allows Russian tankers to unload oil at its ports to sell cheaply to India, despite American sanctions on the Russians following the invasion of Ukraine.

The reintroduction of the Houthis to the list of terrorist organizations by the Trump administration may raise hopes for marking a more aggressive line against Omani slipperiness and expelling their leaders from its territory, but it should be remembered that even during his first term, the Houthis were defined as such and security cooperation with Oman continued as usual. Moreover, in 2022, the American president engaged with the Sultanate of Oman in a real estate deal worth about $4 billion (about 14.2 billion shekels).

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The desert nation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) found itself in an unprecedented situation on Wednesday, attempting to recover from the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the country. This historic weather event, as described by the state-run WAM news agency, surpassed "anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949".

The deluge primarily impacted Dubai, where the city's international airport, a hub for the long-haul carrier Emirates, was inundated with floodwaters. The rains began late Monday, soaking the sands and roadways of Dubai with 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at the airport. However, the situation intensified around 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday, with the storms continuing throughout the day, dumping more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall onto the overwhelmed city within 24 hours.

Video: Arab social media

At Dubai International Airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed, forcing authorities to halt arrivals. Passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads. One couple, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, described the situation at the airport as "absolute carnage," with people sleeping in the Metro station and the airport itself due to the lack of transportation options.

The airport acknowledged on Wednesday morning that the flooding had left "limited transportation options" and affected flights as aircraft crews couldn't reach the airfield. "Recovery will take some time," the airport said on the social platform X. "We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges."

The Sharjah-based UAE carrier Air Arabia has suspended check-in for both inbound and outbound flights until Apr. 18 due to the weather's severe impact.

Paul Griffiths, the airport's CEO, acknowledged continued issues with flooding, saying every place an aircraft could be safely parked was taken. Some aircraft had been diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the city-state's second airfield. "It remains an incredibly challenging time. In living memory, I don't think anyone has ever seen conditions like it," Griffiths told the state-owned talk radio station Dubai Eye. "We are in uncharted territory, but I can assure everyone we are working as hard as we possibly can to make sure our customers and staff are looked after."

The rains were not limited to Dubai, as precipitation was also reported in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. However, the UAE was particularly affected, with one potential contributing factor being "cloud seeding," a process in which the government flies small planes through clouds, burning special salt flares to increase precipitation.

While rain is unusual in the UAE, an arid Arabian Peninsula nation, it occurs periodically during the cooler winter months. However, many roads and other areas lack proper drainage due to the lack of regular rainfall, leading to flooding. Authorities sent tanker trucks to pump away the water, and some residents had to bail out their flooded homes. As of now, authorities canceled school and instructed citizens to work from home. The government offered no overall damage or injury information, but in Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate, police reported that a 70-year-old man died when his vehicle was swept away by floodwater.

In neighboring Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the situation was equally dire, with at least 19 people killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to a statement from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management. Tragically, this figure includes 10 schoolchildren and an adult who were swept away in a vehicle, prompting condolences from rulers across the region.

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An oil tanker associated with an Israeli billionaire has been struck by a bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman amid heightened tensions with Iran, an official told The Associated Press on Wednesday, with an Israeli official telling Reuters this was an Iranian-perpetrated attack.

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The attack happened Tuesday night off the coast of Oman, the Mideast-based defense official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they did not have authorization to discuss the attack publicly.

According the Israeli official who spoke with Reuters, the drone is of the type it has supplied to Russia in Ukraine. The tanker had sustained minor damage to the hull with no injuries or spillage of the gas oil cargo, Israeli-controlled Eastern Pacific Shipping said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organization in the region monitoring shipping, told the AP: "We are aware of an incident and it's being investigated at this time."

The official identified the vessel attacked as the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon. That tanker is operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.

A phone number for Eastern Pacific rang unanswered Wednesday.

While no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion immediately fell on Iran. Tehran and Israel have been engaged in a yearslong shadow war in the wider Middle East, with some drone attacks targeting Israeli-associated vessels traveling around the region.

The US also blamed Iran for a series of attacks occurring off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Tehran then had begun escalating its nuclear program following the US' unilateral withdraw from its atomic deal with world powers.

Iranian state media did not immediately acknowledge the attack on the Pacific Zircon.

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On the last day of our visit to Oman, we decided we should eat at one of the more high-end restaurants in Muscat, near the marvelous opera house. It got raving reviews, so we figured we should check it out. We asked the driver who had been with us all through the visit whether he would like to join. As the locals generally do, he replied with low-key modesty, "Only if this is ok with you." And without missing a beat we said, "Of course." After all, this driver went above and beyond what he had to during our brief tour, showing us what only the locals know about the place. So apart from giving him a generous tip, it was a no-brainer that he would join us for our last festive meal.

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At some point during our chat with the driver, we decided to challenge him by asking if he had ever wondered where we are from, having listened to us speak all this time in a language he could not understand. He smiled and replied, "I know where you are from." We asked if he had ever met Israelis and he said that he had indeed, once before, but also added that he met Israelis in India and Thailand. We promised that we would recommend his services to anyone we meet who planned to visit Oman and he thanked us. "I wish I could come and visit Israel," he said."

That driver, whom we met just by happenstance after ordering a taxi, captures the essence of this surprising country: friendly, welcoming, intelligent, and calm. In fact, very calm. In that sense – but not just in that sense – Oman is very different than the rest of the Middle East. You won't hear people shout or swear or honk. Everything is calm and everyone is courteous.

This is perhaps why the sultanate doesn't usually grab the media spotlight. Compared to its flashy neighbors the UAE and Qatar, Omar is more modest. But underneath this veneer, there lies a country that is definitely worth a visit – perhaps more so than any other Gulf destination.

A strategic location

Oman lies on the eastern part of the Persian Gulf. In fact, it is the easternmost Arab country and shares a border with the UAE in the north; Yemen in the south; and Saudi Arabia in the west. Across from the Gulf of Oman lies Iran. It has also been influenced to a large degree by India and Pakistan and by the legacy left behind by the British, whose decades-old rule ended in full only in 1971. It belongs to the Gulf Cooperation Council alongside Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, but unlike those countries, it espouses neutrality. That's why it refused to join the Saudi-led coalition to fight the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This allowed it to enjoy a peaceful border on that flank.

This is also why Oman has not joined the Abraham Accords, and probably won't do so in the foreseeable future. However, beneath the surface, it has maintained good relations with Israel, which have been managed by Mossad. Efraim Halevy, who was Mossad director, told Israel Hayom that he visited the sultanate for the first time in 1974. Since then, the Mossad chiefs have visited this place quite often, but not only them. Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Benjamin Netanyahu all visited Oman as prime ministers. Various cabinet ministers and government officials also visited Muscat when Israeli-Arab relations flourished (such as during the heyday of the Oslo Accords), but also when things turned south in the region.

Recently the two countries have seen an uptick in cross-border engagements. Part of this is because Israel has been courting Oman to allow Israeli airliners unrestricted access to its airspace en route to the east. Jerusalem was taken aback by the Omani refusal despite Saudi Arabia giving a green light in July during President Joe Biden's visit. Notwithstanding this road bump, policymakers believe that this matter will be resolved in due course, perhaps even before Israelis travel en masse to various destinations during the High Holy Days.

It is also safe to assume that there are pressures applied by those who oppose this easing of restrictions, primarily by Iran. Iran has significant clout in the region, despite the religious gulf between the Arab states (Oman is Sunni, Iran is Shiite). When Iran engaged in covert nuclear talks in 2015 over the nuclear deal, they did so in Muscat under the auspices of the sultanate's hosts. This was made possible mostly because of the Omani neutrality that, as far as Iran is concerned, is different than the hostility exhibited by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE.

The lack of official ties between the countries has prevented Israelis from visiting the state as regular tourists. Only those who hold a foreign passport can visit, and that is too bad because the sultanate is one big surprise: Oman offers tourists a combination of western urban towns alongside an outback whose nature runs wild. It has high-end hotels and great food. For Israelis who seek an exotic vacation, booking a vacation in Oman should be a no-brainer once it becomes a viable option.

Muscat, the capital, is in the northern part of the country. Many of the tourists there arrive by car from the UAE, and others by air. Tourist season is mainly in the winter when things cool down a bit from the high 70s you have during the summer months (along with prohibitive humidity). Because of the heat, many establishment owners close their premises starting midday, take a siesta and then come back to work in the afternoon. Some have air conditioning and even the local open-air market has cooling systems that make it possible for tourists to browse the stands and for the merchants to make a living.

That market is one of the main attractions in the city. It has everything you could want, but its specialty is frankincense, whose aroma is very popular among the locals. It comes in the form of small rocks that get lit and then spread their scent. Those who want traditional souvenirs can buy the curved daggers that men carry on their belts, which are also part of the national flag, the hats worn by practically all men, and the traditional jalabiyya garments that cover men and women from head to toe (white for the former, black for the latter). You can also find leather products, dates, and sesame confectionery known as halwa. But unlike the halwa we know from Israel, the Omani version resembles Turkish delight and it is very sweet - it is served on small plates with dessert, along with tea or coffee (even the coffee here is different: Like other Gulf nations, it is much lighter).

Omani food is a twist on your traditional Middle Eastern or Arab dishes. Hummus has a different texture and taste - much more subtle, almost like yogurt. The food is based mostly on sheep and camel meat. It is served alongside rice and the like. The strong spices are influenced to a large degree by Asian cuisine, but there are also unique flavors. The flagship dish is shuwa meat – which is mutton marinated in Omani spices, then wrapped in banana leaves or palm leaves and put in an underground sand oven for a protracted period of several days. Fish is also popular here: Oman's relatively easy access to seawater made it a major exporter of fish and seafood.

Oman provides much of its domestic consumption on its own, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables. Its economy is heavily based on oil and over the past two decades, it has also been fueled by natural gas. Much of the wealth it accumulates goes back to the people: The main motorway from the capital to the southern city of Salalah on the Yemeni border - which is about 620 miles - was built as a toll road by a Chinese company but it was eventually transferred to government ownership and is now charge-free. It is very impressive, in part because it has lights all along and is very well kept.

In fact, high-end maintenance is a constant feature in Oman. The uniformity of the homes – low-leveled and light-colored – could give you the wrongful first impression that they are decrepit, but the truth is that this is designed to preserve the conservative character of the place to avoid an eye-popping display of wealth. For the same reason, you won't find skyscrapers in Oman or highrises. Homes are relatively new and the infrastructure is the most advanced – from the watering systems to the drip irrigation (including in far-flung villages). This is also the case with communication systems (there is cellular coverage practically everywhere, including in the desert and mountain areas). When we tried to pay with cash in one of the villages in order to visit a local castle, we were told that we could only pay by credit card, despite the ticket price being just two dollars.

Oman is dotted with castles and fortresses from the time it was ruled by the Portugees (who were later kicked out by the Ottomans in the 17th century). Muscat's coastline has castles, including some that lie right next to the Sultan's palace. The palace is located on the sea, with red-colored cannons at its coast-facing back to protect the ruler. The entrance to the palace is only through the front. The building itself is very much like Oman as a whole – projects modesty but also cleanliness, both in architecture and physical features. Just like other Gulf states, Oman has used its wealth to attract many foreign workers, who take up a variety of jobs mainly in the services industry. But unlike the UAE or Qatar, where you would normally only encounter foreigners, in Oman, the locals work in every sector. That's why the ratio of locals to foreigners is different than its neighbors. It has about 2.5 million citizens and a similar number of foreign residents.

The Islam practiced here is very different. The country is conservative and religious but in moderation. You see mosques everywhere - don't miss the splendor of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the capital with its massive carpets, wood engravings, and impressive chandelier. The sultan often arrives for the Friday service - but the country is not run by religious institutions; they only complement the state institutions. Alcohol, for example, is prohibited in public and you won't find it in stores and restaurants on the street front, but you can definitely drink in hotel lobbies which are frequented by many locals as well. The relatively few restrictions are also evident in how Omani authorities treat women: They can join the workforce and get a driver's license, and they can go out to party and attend college. Oman has invested heavily in education: You don't have to pay anything from kindergarten until you graduate from university. Those who excel can get scholarships for advanced degrees at prestigious institutions abroad.

The sense of personal security here is exceptional. You almost never see a police officer but the locals follow the rules, from maintaining cleanliness to proper driving. They don't go over the speed limit or honk and you rarely see some traffic violations. Our guide told us that the police usually crack down primarily on those who use their cellphone while driving or those who have not buckled up, as well as on drunk drivers. Those who get caught get fined about $20. If you are caught three times, your license is revoked on the spot.

Gas is very cheap because it's produced from Oman's own natural resources. Our guide complained that the price was higher than normal because of the war in Ukraine, causing the price at the pump to double. Groceries shopping is also very cheap, as are meals at restaurants. Although you can definitely find high-end dining – as you would see in a hotel – the majority of restaurants are very affordable. At Rozna, which is located inside a castle-like structure, a couple can get soups, appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks for a total of $30.

A 5-star desert

Muscat is very welcoming, but the real deal is what is just outside it. Nature in Oman is unique. Although desert comprises 85% of the country, some 15% are mountainous. One of the main tourist attractions is Wadi Shab, with its many oases, situated some two hours from the capital (and another 40 minutes hike in each direction on a trail replete with tropical flora including mango, papaya, banana, and of course dates and lime). The way to reach the wadi is also full of various landmarks and all are very well kept and organized: easy parking, clean toilets, and clear signage in both Arabic and English. This is a 5-star desert.

Another popular destination in Oman is just southwest of the capital: Nizwa. In its center, there is a big castle called Nizwa Fort. It has a large marketplace – the Nizwa Souk – where the main attraction is the livestock market where people flock to every morning to sell their sheep and camels and buy other animals. There is also a fish market nearby and a halwa factory that some say is one of the sultan's favorite places.

On the way to Nizwa, you can stop at a place called Bahla, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the hundreds-year-old wall surrounding it, spanning more than 12 km (15 miles). There are also quite a lot of picturesque villages dotting the mountains, with residents getting their livelihood mainly from tourism. Each village has easily accessible hiking trails with signs and comfortable access routes, including some that involve more extreme sports, such as rappelling and rock climbing, or trails that go along waterfalls and natural lagoons. All villages have small hostels with coffee shops with a great view of the mountains, capturing the history of every waterfall, stream, and plant for hundreds of years. In fact, Oman has a rich history due to its strategic location, but also because of outer space. It turns out that a lot of the meteorites that hit the earth ended up in the sultanate, making it a mecca for meteoriticists.

Most of the tourists we encountered were actually foreign workers. The guide told us that during the winter months the number of tourists from overseas grows, mainly tourists from Europe who want to escape the cold. The local airline, Oman Air, flies to major destinations in Europe, as well as to various locations in east Asia, India, and Pakistan, but mainly to the Middle East: Egypt, Jordan, and of course, the Gulf states. Tickets are rather affordable, as are the hotels. Oman, being a rather inexpensive country, uses the Omani Rial as the official currency (1 Omani Rial equals $2.60), but only in notes; no coins. The notes range from 1 to 50 rial. There are also notes for the subunits of the rial, Baisas. All of the notes bear the image of the sultan, Haitham bin Tariq. Murals of him and his predecessor, Qaboos bin Said, are everywhere in Oman.

Qaboos ousted his father in 1970 and made Oman into what it is today: Arab and conservative, but also open and accepting, and most importantly: very friendly. This is clear wherever you go, and with everyone, you speak to. When we stopped at the marketplace to ask for help in explaining to our guide where we are so he could pick us up, the local just asked us if he could talk with the guide and explain to him where we were. He explained this with great patience and offered to wait with us until the driver arrived.

The current sultan, who replaced Qaboos when he died in 2019, has continued in his footsteps, maintaining good relations with the rest of the world. As far as Israel is concerned, this means that the two countries are likely to maintain their low-key bilateral ties, and the issue of overflight rights will likely be resolved eventually (perhaps through US intervention). However, the two countries are unlikely to upgrade relations beyond that. Israelis who want to visit this regional gem will have to wait, although if you have a foreign passport, do not hesitate: Oman is a fascinating and surprising country in every imaginable way. It is not the typical Arab Middle Eastern country, and it gives us all hope that the region could look a lot different one day.

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Seven more people were killed in Oman as heavy winds and rain swept through the country after tropical storm Shaheen made landfall, the national emergency committee said on Monday on its official Twitter account. Four people had been killed on Sunday including a child.

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The latest data showed that the storm had subsided, the civil aviation authority said on Monday, warning that scattered rainfall was still expected. It urged citizens to be careful crossing valleys and avoid low-lying areas.

When its eye crossed land, Shaheen was carrying winds of between 120 and 150 km per hour (75-93 mph), Omani authorities said. It was throwing up waves of up to 10 meters (32 feet). Video footage from Omani broadcasters showed vehicles submerged as people tried to make their way through muddy brown floodwater. Up to 500 cm (20 inches) of rain was expected in some areas, raising the risk of flash floods.

Cyclones steadily lose their power over land and Shaheen was downgraded to a tropical storm after it cleared the ocean, the meteorology service said on Twitter.

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Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday that Iran's alleged attack on a merchant ship in the Arabian Sea last week was "a stepping-up of the escalation" of hostilities by Iran, and called for international action.

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Gantz addressed Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and said the drone strike on the Mercer Street that left two crew members dead – one from the United Kingdom and one from Romania – was "in violation of international law and human morality." He charged that Iran was behind at least five attacks on international shipping in the last year.

The United States, Britain and Israel have blamed Iran for the fatal attack on the Israeli-linked oil tanker. Iran denies involvement.

While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Iran and its militia allies have used so-called "suicide" drones in attacks previously. The region has seen a rise in attacks on commercial vessels in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

"This is exactly the reason why we must act now against Iran, which is not only striving toward nuclear arms, but is also bringing about a dangerous arms race and intends to destabilize the Middle East with terrorist militias who are armed with hundreds of drones in Iran, Yemen, Iraq and other countries in the region," Gantz said.

"Drones have also attacked oil factories in Saudi Arabia. The latest attack on the oil tanker MV Mercer Street which left two dead in violation of international law is a step forward for them," Gantz said.

Gantz said that any future agreement between world powers and Iran to rein in its nuclear program must also address Iranian's "aggression in the region and harming both innocent people and to the global economy."

"This is not a future threat, rather a tangible and immediate danger," he said.

Gantz also said that the threat Iran posed would likely increase once Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi wassworn in on Aug. 5.

"Iran under the executioner Raisi, who takes office this week, will be more dangerous to the world, more destructive to the region and will strive to become an existential threat to Israel," he said.

"We will work to eliminate such a threat. Iran's aggression in the region in general and on the naval front in particular is intensifying: in the past year there have been no fewer than five attacks against international ships, some using aerial drones manufactured by the military industry," Gantz continued.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the administration was "confident that Iran carried out this attack."

"It follows a pattern of similar attacks by Iran, including past incidents with explosive drones," he told reporters at the State Department. "There is no justification for this attack on a peaceful vessel on a commercial mission, international waters rise action is a direct threat to freedom of navigation and commerce, took the lives of innocent sailors."

Blinken said the US was in close contact with the UK, Israel and Romania and "there will be a collective response." He did not elaborate on what that response might be.

Part of this article was first published by i24NEWS

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An Israeli-owned merchant ship reportedly came under attack off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, the British military said Friday, offering few other details about the incident.

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The cargo ship Mercer Street is a Japanese-built vessel operated by the Zodiac Maritime company.

Israeli officials did not immediately acknowledge the incident, but it comes amid heightened tensions between it and Iran as negotiations remain stalled over Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers. Other Israeli ships have been targeted in recent months as well amid a shadow war between the two nations, with Israeli officials blaming the Islamic Republic for the assaults.

An brief initial statement from the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an investigation was underway into the incident, which it described as happening late Thursday night just northeast of the Omani island of Masirah. The location is over 300 kilometers (185 miles) southeast of Oman's capital, Muscat.

The statement did not elaborate, other to say that it suspected the attack did not involve piracy. Earlier on Thursday, the British military group had said it was investigating another unexplained incident in the same area, but it did not elaborate.

Later Friday, the British Defense Ministry identified the nationality of the ship's owners, but did not elaborate further.

Oman did not immediately acknowledge an attack and officials there did not respond to requests for comment. The US Navy's 5th Fleet, which patrols the Mideast, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions over Iran's tattered nuclear deal and as negotiations over restoring the accord have stalled in Vienna. Since then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018, there have been a series of ship attacks in the region suspected to have been carried out by Tehran.

Iranian media did not immediately acknowledge the attack Friday.

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Jewish communities across six Arab Gulf states announced the establishment of a new association they hope will reinvigorate Jewish life in the region, Monday

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The Association of Gulf Jewish Communities will include representatives of the largest Gulf Jewish community, located in the United Arab Emirates, as well as much smaller communities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Rabbi Elie Abadi of Dubai will serve as a spiritual leader, and Bahrain's Ibrahim David Nunu will serve as president.

The association's founders say their goal is to assist one another in bolstering Jewish life in the Arab Gulf. Preparations for the establishment of a regional kashrut organization to provide kosher food to anyone interested throughout the region have already commenced. At the same time, a rabbinical court will be established to answer any halachic questions that may arise.

While the Jewish community in UAE and Dubai in particular, is quickly growing, with rabbis, hundreds of members, synagogues, and a school, the situation in the other Gulf States is very different. These communities are each comprised of at most a few dozen Jews, as is the case in Bahrain. Under these conditions, they keep their identity secret and will continue to do so despite the establishment of the AGJC.

According to Rafael, a Jewish engineer from London who arrived in Kuwait City six months ago and will serve as one of the association's representatives, "You can count the number of Jews who live in Kuwait on one hand.

He said he had moved to Kuwait for work, "and the truth is that society here is conservative, much like Saudi Arabia, but it's tolerant and moral."

AGJC Rabbi Abadi said, "We must take care of the educational, cultural, spiritual, and religious needs through the establishment of programs and institutions to serve these increasing demands."

"Each one of our communities has so much to offer the other while maintaining its independence. This new association allows us to merge our resources for the betterment of all Jews in the Gulf," AGJC President Nunu said.

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The Middle East process of Arab and Muslim countries normalizing with Israel – under which Israel has instated diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco – continues, with additional countries expanding existing ties with Israel.

But some people are hoping that business can come even before the establishment of official ties. Two Arabic-speaking Israelis – co-founder and CEO Andrey Kogan and co-founder and COO Elad Amar – have launched the Israeli Omani Friendship Society, the goal of which is to foster bilateral economic and cultural relations between Oman and Israel.

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According to Amar and Kogan, Oman's economy is based on oil and natural gas, which comprise 90% of its exports. However, they say that the country is deeply invested in agricultural development and wants to develop the high-tech capabilities of its some 5 million residents.

In the Omani capital of Muscat, officials are promoting R&D centers to reduce the country's dependence on oil and gas.

In terms of higher education, Oman has undergone dramatic change under the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who died nearly a year ago, and his successor, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.

In terms of economics, Haitham's top priority is to turn Oman into a logistics center for the Persian Gulf, maximizing its proximity to the Indian Ocean, Arab states, Africa, India, and Iran. This means that the Omani government is encouraging foreign investment, including taking steps to reduce local ownership of Omani companies. It has also waived visas for citizens of 103 nations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Muscat in 2018, and it appears that Oman has accepted the fact that Israel is here to stay. Oman is keen to acquire Israeli water technology and willing to do business, if unofficially.

The new friendship association seeks to show off Oman to Israelis, and vice versa. It also provides financial consultation and facilitates connections between Israeli and Omani businesses. The association is active on a number of platforms, including LinkedIn, where it is attracting a growing Omani following.

According to Kogan, "At this stage, there still aren't official [diplomatic] relations, but the attitude toward Israel is positive and they want contact. The moment there is full normalization, we can expect warm ties."

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