Oman’s Sultan in Iran to Discuss Ties, Region

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a two-day visit to hold talks with Iranian officials on bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues. 
He was officially received by President Ebrahim Raisi at the Saadabad complex and held bilateral talks before the meeting of the high-level delegations of the two countries. 
Tehran and Muscat were set to sign four memorandums of understanding in the economic, investment and energy sectors during the meetings, according to president.ir. 
The Omani delegation accompanying the Sultan included the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, industries, energy and finance, as well as chiefs of armed forces and investment organization. 
Ahead of the team’s departure, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi hailed the Sultan’s visit on his twitter account. 
“The historic visit of the Sultan to the Islamic Republic of Iran today reflects the importance that the leaderships of the two countries attach to deepening beneficial bilateral cooperation and their joint keenness to consult at the summit level on many regional and international concerns, in support of the causes of peace, stability and prosperity,” he wrote. 

Additional Importance 

Ali Najafi Khoshroudi, Iran’s ambassador to Oman, also said in an interview that the Omani Sultan’s trip at the present time is naturally of additional importance, given the course of regional and international developments. 
“The major developments in the region require consultations at high levels between Iran and Oman, who enjoy friendly ties,” he told ISNA. 
Asked about a potential initiative by the Omani top official about the 2015 nuclear deal, the ambassador highlighted the sultanate’s important role in the shaping of the agreement, as well as its support for negotiations to revive it. 
“We always welcome Oman’s goodwill, initiatives and positive measures in this regard,” he said, adding that Iran has never quit the negotiating table and moved along the course of diplomacy. 
Oman’s mediatory role paved the way for the talks that eventually led to the signing of the landmark deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in 2015.
The JCPOA restricted Iran’s nuclear activity in return for sanctions relief, but suffered after the US withdrew and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Tehran to scale down its commitments. 
Negotiations to restore the accord have been underway for nearly two years, but have not yet been concluded. 
Oman is also putting up efforts to foster reconciliation between Iran and Egypt, with Sultan Haitham reportedly discussing the issue with the Egyptian president during his recent visit to Cairo. 
Najafi said the expansion of ties between Iran and Egypt, as two heavyweights in the Muslim world, has been a focus of attention for the leaders of both states. 
“We give special attention to upgrading relations with Muslim countries and welcome any attempt to facilitate such ties,” he said. 
A former Iranian foreign minister, who had closely witnessed Oman’s mediatory efforts between Iran and West for the nuclear deal, said hopes are high that the results of this visit will be to the benefit of the two nations, as well as the entire region. 
“We hope mutual contacts and visits at all levels and in all political, economic, cultural and social sectors, will continue so that the wishes of the two friendly nations will come true,” Ali Akbar Salehi said.