There is much interest in Oman’s role in the recent US-Iran rapprochement (see page 1) and, on 4 December, Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani is due in Muscat for talks with the senior leadership. On 21 November, Sultan Qaboos issued three decrees, of which two were of particular interest. The first (62/2013) established a National Museum of Oman, affiliated to the Ministry of Heritage and Culture; all archaeological artefacts held by the ministry will become the property of the museum. Decree 64/2013 ratified Oman’s accession to the UN Convention Against Corruption.