Oman, a neutral Arab nation, is facing increasing pressure from the US to cut ties with Iran amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
The US has threatened to sanction and even bomb Oman if it joins Iran in tolling vessels in the strategic waterway, according to a US official.
Oman has repeatedly denied any such intention and has maintained its impartial stance throughout the conflict.
The sultanate has walked a fine line between its longtime ally, the US, and its powerful neighbor, Iran, in an effort to promote stability and peace in the region.
However, Oman's approach has 'opened the door to criticism and unwelcome scrutiny of a country that has long prided itself on its impartial foreign policy,' said Sanam Vakil, a Middle East director at Chatham House.
The Trump administration's threat has highlighted perceptions in some American circles that Oman is sympathetic to Iran.
Oman has had diplomatic ties with the US for almost 200 years and has a centuries-old relationship with Iran.
The sultanate has acted as a mediator in previous rounds of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, but the US has tried to sideline Oman in any diplomatic process.
