Muscat: Iran and Oman held talks to facilitate the implementation of bilateral agreements in a number of areas, including security and customs, said a senior Iranian official.

"We agreed that negotiations start for the implementation of the security and customs agreements. We also agreed on the trips of some high-ranking officials of the two countries," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said here in Muscat on Monday.  

The official was speaking at a press conference held a day after he co-chaired the third session of Iran-Oman Joint Strategic Committee in Muscat with his Omani counterpart Ahmed Al Harthy.

Amir-Abdollahian also said that during his visit to Oman, he handed over an invitation letter from Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri to His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, for a visit to Iran.

Iran and Oman have "exemplary" ties which will be strengthened further in the future in all spheres, he noted.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister hailed the 'wisdom' of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and Oman's recent hosting of the nuclear talks between Iran and major global powers.

There are still positive opportunities to reach a 'clear' and 'fair' nuclear agreement but Iran will never give in to 'excessive' demands of other countries, he said.

"Oman has always played an important role in promoting peace and stability in the region," Amir-Abdollahian noted, adding that the Sultanate has always had 'good intentions' with regard to negations between Iran and other Gulf countries.

He said that Iran may have 'difference of opinion' with other countries or a certain country on regional issues but believes that these disagreements can be resolved through negotiations.

Amir-Abdollahian added that Iran is against any form of extremism and will continue to support Iraq and Syria in the face of terrorists and believes that the people of Syria themselves should determine their own destiny. "We did not allow Syria to become another Somalia or Libya," he said.

He also noted that Tehran is not 'optimistic' about the US-led coalition against terrorism and has not seen any 'serious' or 'effective' measure by this alliance.  "Some countries, instead of fighting terrorism, are seeking to bring back their military forces (to the region)."

Amir-Abdollahian also said that Iran supports efforts to restore peace in Yemen as it regards the security in the Gulf region as its own security.

Oman Times