Iran-Oman ties 'help curb regional tension'

Sayid Fahd bin Mahmood Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister, has praised the outcome of his three-day official visit to Iran during which he also met President Mohammed Khatami, and discussed issues of common concern in the regional and international context, besides bilateral ties.

Sayid Fahd, the senior most Omani official to visit Iran, which shares the strategic Strait of Hormuz with the Sultanate, said the cordial relations between the two countries had helped curb the tension in the region, adding that the visit was bound to enhance bilateral co-operation in all fields not only for the benefit of the people of the two nations but of the region as a whole.

According to Oman Television, Sayid Fahd who returned on Tuesday night along with a high-level delegation, expressed happiness over enduring ties between the two countries deep rooted in history and conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to the Iranian leadership.

President Khatami, a reformist who paid a historic visit to Saudi Arabia recently to mend fences, was equally full of praise for the growing ties between Iran and Oman,asserting these were key to the establishment of security and peace in the region.

"Enduring, strategic, steady and all-out ties have forged between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman as well as with other countries," said President Khatami, while praising Oman's moderate stances to boost co-operation on regional and international issues.

"The economic and political fate of the world depends to some extent on the fate of peace and security in the region. Security, stability and progress in the region could provide nations with better standard of living and lead to international peace."

Sayid Fahd was seen off at Tehran Airport by Dr Hassan Habibi, Iran's First Vice-President, with whom he held an official round of talks, focusing largely on economic cooperation. Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Romhi, Minister of Oil and Gas who was part of the Omani delegation, termed his talks with his Iranian counterpart, focusing on the joint Hinjam-Bukha gas field project, productive and fruitful.

He said the two sides agreed to support Opec's pricing mechanism for the benefit of producers and consumers alike, hoping the result of the latest reduction in oil production would appear once the surplus has been absorbed by the market.

Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, said he held detailed talks with his Iranian counterpart Engineer Ishaq Jehangeri. They discussed prospects of free trade between the two countries, customs union, a joint marine company as well as a joint fisheries venture. Ali Sultan said the two sides underlined the important role being played by the Joint Economic Commission which is due to hold its next session in Tehran in May.