History of Oman firms. Perhaps most importantly, the Basic Statutes provide rules for setting Sultan Qaboos' succession. Oman occupies a strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, directly opposite Iran. Oman has concerns with regional stability and security, given tensions in the region, the proximity of Iran and Iraq, and the potential threat of political Islam. Oman maintained its diplomatic relations with Iraq throughout the Gulf War while supporting the United Nations allies by sending a contingent of troops to join coalition forces and by opening up to pre-positioning of weapons and supplies. In September 2000,
Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia a valuable resource for the serious researcher. The gazetteer was digitised and made available online by the Qatar Digital Library in January 2015. Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia (nicknamed Lorimer) is a two-volume encyclopedia compiled by John Gordon Lorimer. The "Gazetteer" was published in secret by the British government in India in 1908 and 1915 and it served as a handbook for British diplomats in the Arabian Peninsula and Persia. The work was declassified in 1955 under the fifty-year rule, and was widely praised for its