Update: Iran, Oman set to boost ties in post-nuclear deal era

Iran and Oman agreed on Sunday to upgrade cooperation to a significant level that reflects the long-standing relations between the two countries, according to Press TV.

The implementation of recent nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers earlier this year has paved the ground for more cooperation between the two regional countries, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi who started a two-day visit to Tehran on Sunday.

"It is necessary that the two countries further use opportunities created in post-deal era to strengthen cooperation, particularly in economic areas," Rouhani added.

Tehran and Muscat enjoy "friendly, cordial and strategic" relations, he said, adding "the level of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries should be expanded and deepened in parallel with the political ties."

Rouhani hailed as "positive" Oman's role during Tehran's nuclear negotiations with the world powers.

Over the past years, Oman avoided publicly expressing concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program and the two states managed to maintain strong ties.

For his part, Alawi said his country was determined to improve cooperation with Iran in all fields.

Oman will provide Iranian traders with special facilities and welcomes their active presence in Muscat, he said, adding that strengthening economic cooperation between the two sides will serve their interests.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that his country saw no limit for expanding comprehensive ties with Oman.

Iran-Oman relations were exemplary and Tehran and Muscat were keen to expand relations in various fields to contribute to regional and international peace and security, Zarif said in a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart, according to Press TV.

"Oman is a good and reliable partner for the Islamic republic and we will maintain these relations in all fields, which will be beneficial to the region and international peace and security," Zarif was quoted as saying.

The current visit by the Omani foreign minister to Tehran showed that the two sides attached significance to promotion of cooperation, particularly in trade, commercial and economic fields as well as joint investment, he said.

Iran and Oman would carry out short-, medium- and long-term projects, Zarif added.

Tehran and Muscat enjoy "exemplary and exceptional" ties in the region and the Iranian government and nation hail Muscat's active role in mutual, regional and multilateral relations, he added.

Oman has been maintaining amicable relations with Iran in a number of fronts, including diplomatic, political and economic areas, despite an Arab-Iranian dispute over the Persian Gulf, named by Arab states as Arabian Gulf.

Besides, Oman mediated talks between the Islamic republic and the United States, Saudi Arabia and Britain over a number of disputed issues in the recent years.

In March, 2014, Iran sealed a deal to export 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to Oman. The agreement involves building the sub-sea Iran-Oman pipeline across the Persian Gulf at the cost of about one billion U.S. dollars.

In a meeting between Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh and the top Omani diplomat on Sunday, both sides stressed the acceleration of the construction of the pipeline for exporting natural gas from Iran to Oman.

"Expert and commercial studies of the pipeline for exports of Iranian gas to Oman are being carried out and will be completed in the next six months," Alawi said after the meeting, Iran's state TV reported.

"Given favorable relations of the two countries, Oman is interested in Iranian gas and agrees with all the details of the plan," he said, adding "based on the agreement, Iranian gas will be exported to global markets via Oman."

Both sides also discussed the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors and prospects of their economic, trade and oil cooperation and expanding it, Alawi added.

For his part, Zangeneh said the two sides discussed shared investment in refining, oil storage, and expanding the petrochemical sector in both countries. Enditem