Muscat: Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed met on Wednesday US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is a visit to Oman.
According to a report by Oman News Agency, Qaboos and Clinton exchanged cordial talks and reviewed aspects of the existing cooperation between Oman and the United States in various fields.
The two also reviewed the recent regional as well as international developments.
Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, was also present.
A US embassy spokesperson told Gulf News that there would be no media interaction during Clinton’s visit to Oman.
“I cannot give you any plans of her visit,” the spokesperson added.
However, reports in the international media said that the American Secretary of State was visiting Oman to personally thank Sultan Qaboos for his help in securing the release of three American hikers, who were detained in Iran on charges of spying.
Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were released by iran after 781 days in captivity at the intervention of Oman. Earlier last year, Oman had secured released, on bail, of third hiker Sarah Shourd on medical ground.
Oman is reportedly have paid $1.5 million as bail money to secure the release of three hikers. Clinton has been quoted as saying that she will also discuss Iran with Oman’s monarch, including an alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador.
Some of the American media has said that Clinton is likely to discuss efforts to meet demands for greater economic and political freedoms in Oman.
