After Oman's foreign ministry voiced its feelings towards Brexit on Twitter – congratulating the British people for taking such a "courageous decision" – many started spreading rumors that this could mean Oman is thinking of pulling its own Brexit-style succession from the GCC.
"The British people took a courageous decision in history when it decided to leave the EU. Some have explained the exit as a firm reaction to certain European Commission policies."
However, since the rumors started spreading, the foreign ministry has denied any intention of leaving the GCC.
“I assure the people of the GCC that any ideas concerning the disintegration of the GCC have not been discussed, and Gulf states are moving in the direction of unified processes and the strengthening of ties for the longer term," an unnamed ministry official said, in an interview with Kuwait's Al-Rai newspaper.
“This is street talk and not that of officials and politicians,” the official added.
The foreign ministry also issued an official statement on Saturday, making its stance towards Brexit quite clear.
“Oman expresses its trust that Britain will continue its international role to support safety, security and boost economic development,” it said, according to Gulf News .
However, after the tweet went viral, a lot of mixed reactions came out. Some voiced hope that Oman will one day leave the GCC, while others criticized the ministry's tweet.
A former vice-chairman of Oman's Shura Council Ishaq Siabi only made his opinion all the more clear when he tweeted out his hopes for a similar referendum in Oman.
"I only wish the Sultanate of Oman would exit the Gulf Cooperation Council."
"A courageous message from the foreign ministry and a clear message too. And a message to Cameron"
Many found the tweet strange, as it is not an opinion the foreign ministry would normally form.
*This doesn't look like our foreign ministry, it looks like a personal opinion and not the opinion of the ministry itself.*
And others just wanted the criticism to stop because Oman was not the only GCC country to express its support for Brexit.
"Why all the criticism towards Oman? Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also expressed his views on the issue, as did Bahrain and the rest of the world."