Oman Sultan’s Health Casts Pall on State Bridging U.S.-Iran Gap - Bloomberg:
"As Oman celebrated its national day, the four-month absence of Sultan Qaboos bin Said from the country for medical tests was raising questions about political succession in a vital U.S. ally on the Arabian peninsula.
Details of Qaboos’ health haven’t been disclosed, with the Royal Court announcing only that the 74-year-old departed in July for Germany for unspecified checks. In an interview on state television two weeks ago, Qaboos told the four million people living in Oman he’d be unable to return in time for yesterday’s celebrations to mark the state’s independence, which also fell on his birthday.
Unlike the monarchies ruling Oman’s Persian Gulf neighbors, there is no declared heir to the throne in Muscat as Qaboos isn’t married and has no children or brothers. While Oman may be small, it’s strategically placed next to some of the world’s most important energy corridors. And, uniquely in the region, it has close ties both with the U.S. and European nations as well as Shiite power Iran."
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