MUSCAT: Iranian President Hassan Rowhani yesterday held talks with Oman’s leaders in Muscat during a visit aimed at boosting ties and easing tension with other Gulf states, including regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia.
Kicking off the two-day visit to Oman, Iran’s longtime ally in the Gulf, Rowhani went staright into a meeting at Alam palace with H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has acted as an intermediary between Western countries and the Islamic republic.
The two leaders discussed “bilateral cooperation” and “building good relations”, Oman’s official ONA news agency said of the meeting.
Oman signed an initial agreement with Iran to build a $1bn submarine pipeline to import gas from the Islamic republic, Oman’s oil and gas minister said.
The project should be completed by the end of 2017, Mohammad Al Ramahi said.
Ramahi said the two sides will begin technical and feasibility studies of the project, including deciding on the path of the pipeline, indicating that it might connect to Sohar industrial port in northern Oman.
Before departing Tehran for Muscat, Rowhani had hailed these “good relations” and said the visit was “of great importance to strengthen relations between Iran and Islamic countries, especially those neighbouring Iran”.
“The Strait of Hormuz gives countries south of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea great importance,” he told reporters, as cited by Iran’s official news agency IRNA.
Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi said Rowhani’s visit “reflects the confidence” that exists between Muscat and Tehran, who are both “convinced that the top priority is achieving real stability in the region.”
“We seek to strengthen this cooperation (with Iran) to serve and bring closer together all (countries) in the region,” the Oman daily quoted Alawi as saying.
Rowhani has pledged to work on improving relations with Iran’s Arab neighbours in the Gulf since his election last year.
During his Oman visit, Rowhani will also hold talks with senior officials, the sultanate’s top cleric Ahmad Al Khalil and members of the business community.
AFP
