TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian says Iran is strongly in favor of promoting friendly ties and dialogue between neighboring countries for the benefit of the entire region.
Amir-Abdollahian said in a phone conversation with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi that it is regional nations that should be able to decide on the fate of the region as opposed to foreigners.
“Officials of the regional countries should not allow foreign powers to affect regional cooperation and stability,” he said.
He also appreciated Oman’s positive role in regional developments and hailed the country’s efforts to establish regional peace and stability.
Iran and Oman attach special significance to the expansion of mutual relations, Amir-Abdollahian said, urging the two countries to implement the agreements signed during a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Muscat in May.
Iran and Oman, during President Raisi’s trip to the Persian Gulf sultanate, signed 12 cooperation documents and memorandums of understanding for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in various fields.
The documents were signed in various fields including energy, politics, transportation, diplomacy, economy, tourism, sports, and environment.
The top Iranian diplomat also welcomed a planned visit by an Omani government delegation to Tehran and said the two sides are determined to improve bilateral cooperation.
The Omani foreign minister, for his part, underlined the importance of implementing the agreements signed during Raisi’s visit to Muscat.
He said his country believes the new Iranian administration pursues a constructive strategy based on the expansion of ties with regional states.
The Omani government has established a working group tasked with the pursuit of bilateral agreements, Albusaidi said.
Since taking office in August, President Raisi has underscored the need for more trade and economic cooperation with Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. His administration has reached major agreements with Qatar while trade delegates have been dispatched to the United Arab Emirates and Oman in recent months to explore increased economic ties with those states.
Figures by the Iranian customs office show trade between Iran and Oman reached $1.336 billion over the Persian calendar year ending late March, a record high and an increase of 53% against the previous year.