Raisi’s Message Delivered to Oman’s Sultan

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian delivered the written message of President Ebrahim Raisi to Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in a meeting in Muscat on Wednesday.
While extending an invitation to the Omani sultan to visit Iran, the president’s message underlines the importance of bilateral ties and consultations on regional and international issues, according to ISNA. 
During the meeting, the two discussed ways to upgrade Tehran-Muscat cooperation as well as the latest regional and international developments.
Amir-Abdollahian stressed the need to fully implement the agreements reached during the president’s earlier visit to Muscat. 
He also called for boosting cooperation in trade, economy, energy, tourism and transportation among other sectors. 
The sultan of Oman expressed hope that he would be able to travel to Iran in the near future so that the two countries can further advance issues on their joint agenda. 
Amir-Abdollahian later met Oman’s Minister of the Royal Office Sultan bin Mohammed al Nua’mani and Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi during his stay. 

Growing Ties

Iran’s ambassador to Muscat Ali Najafi Khoshroudi, who was also present in the meeting, hailed the Islamic Republic’s good political relations with Oman, saying economic ties are also growing along the same course. 
The volume of trade between the two neighbors has increased by 73% over the past eight months, he told IRNA. 
“Cooperation in four sectors of trade, energy, transit and transportation, and banking, is actively on the two countries’ agenda and important visits in this respect are upcoming in the near future,” he said. 
Tehran and Muscat also have extensive consultations on regional and international issues on their agenda, according to the diplomat. 
“Oman has always played a balanced and wise role in many of the issues concerning the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy,” he said, hoping that this trip would mark a new step toward enhancing the level of strategic cooperation between Iran and Oman. 

Mediatory Role 

Speaking to reporters upon arrival on Tuesday evening, Amir-Abdollahian highlighted the role of Oman as the center of dialogue in the region, both in relation to Iran and other regional crises. 
“Authorities of this country have always played a well-intentioned role in this regard,” he said. 
He also said his discussions with Omani officials would center on bilateral relations as well as plans that need to be realized with greater momentum. He did not specify. 
The crises in Yemen, Afghanistan and Ukraine were also set to be other subjects of the consultations, according to the foreign minister. 
Amir-Abdollahian was later asked about a possible proposal by Oman with respect to negotiations on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, given the Sultanate’s history of mediation in this regard. 
“Omani officials have always had a positive and constructive role in reconciling the two sides’ views for reaching the final steps of an agreement,” he said. 
The minister added that he had discussed the issue with his Omani counterpart on the sidelines of the Baghdad II conference in Amman, Jordan last week. 
“These talks will continue within the framework of previous consultations and Omani authorities’ related efforts in recent months and previous weeks,” he said. 
The 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, curbed Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, but the US pulled out and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Tehran to react by rowing back on its commitments. 
Indirect negotiations in Vienna, Austria started early last year to work out how both sides could resume compliance, but have been stalled for months over final differences. 
Oman was among the intermediaries both during talks that resulted in the signing of the JCPOA and negotiations on its revival.