Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif conferred with his Omani counterpart in Muscat on Sunday.
The two officials described the relations between the two countries as “positive” and said bilateral collaboration can help promote regional cooperation.
Zarif and Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi also discussed the latest regional developments, including the threat of terrorist actions and their repercussions on the region and world as well as the ways to deal with terrorism.
Zarif thanked Oman for hosting the talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and briefed the Omani official on the process of negotiations and the existing views on how to resolve the differences in negotiating positions. He stated, “Iran has initiated the talks with goodwill and has acted seriously throughout the negotiations”, adding, “We are resolved to find a solution which safeguards our nuclear rights.”
Saudi Ties
Elsewhere, the Omani foreign minister stressed that disputes between Iran and the Persian Gulf Arab states will be detrimental to these countries, adding, “Oman will make efforts to break the ice in Tehran-Riyadh relations.”
Alawi stated that Oman is trying to help improve relations between Tehran and Riyadh besides hosing the negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program, the Fars news agency reported.
Touching on the relations between Iran and Arab countries, he said, “The dispute between Persian Gulf Arab states and Iran is due to their different views on regional issues.”
He reiterated that it is not beneficial for the Persian Gulf Arab states to show enmity toward Iran because it would cause them great damages.
On Oman’s role in bringing Tehran and Riyadh closer, he said, “Both Saudi Arabia and Iran welcome this matter,” adding, “All are convinced that the future of the region is dependent on good neighborly relations which demands agreements to be made (to serve all sides’) interests.”
The ninth round of high-level talks meant to clinch a comprehensive deal between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany) will be held in Muscat, Oman, on Tuesday. A trilateral meeting between Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU’s top coordinator for nuclear talks Catherine Ashton was held in Muscat on Sunday.
