Iran president’s visit to Oman opens wider horizons of fruitful cooperation

 In response to an invitation extended by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, President Dr Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently on an official visit to the Sultanate in a bid to enhance bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The deep-rooted relations between the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran aim at achieving many interests which are joint and common for both countries and their peoples, as well as the region in general.

The visit opens wider and deeper horizons of fruitful cooperation between the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran in many fields that will bring prosperity for both the countries and their peoples, as well as different countries and peoples of the region and the world.

The visit reflects the high-level relations between the two countries. His Majesty the Sultan's visit to Iran on August 25, 2013 was the first visit of an Arab leader after the election of Dr Hassan Rouhani as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The visit of Dr Rouhani to the Sultanate is his first visit to an Arab country.

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also visited the Sultanate in May 2007. His Majesty also visited Iran in August 2009. Such exchange of visits at different levels promotes bilateral relations and enhances the joint interests in many fields, especially since these are strongly supported by the Omani and Iranian leaderships.

Throughout ages, the bilateral relations have been based on mutual trust, the ability to exchange views transparently and understanding the interests and priorities of the other party. The two countries jointly supervise the navigation at the Strait of Hormuz and ensure smooth flow of the world trade. The two sides signed an agreement to increase the number of flights from 14 to 30 a week.

A major agreement was also inked at the end of last year as per which Iran will supply the Sultanate with gas from 2015 for 25 years.

It should be noted that the cooperation between the two countries helped in overcoming many differences, restoring severed relations and creating a healthy atmosphere for dialogue, besides playing a humane role in releasing detainees here and there. At the opening of the annual session of the Council of Oman on November 11, 2008, His Majesty had said, "We currently live in a world of overlapping policies and interests but our international cooperation is in line with the Sultanate's higher interests and in line with our contribution to the establishment of world security and prosperity.

"Thanks to these policies, our country has acquired the respect and appreciation of the international community.

"Cooperation and exchange of benefits and interests among nations in an atmosphere of harmony and peace is a vital issue that we should all relentlessly pursue with diligence and dedication for the sake of the welfare of humanity, its security and prosperity. We in the Sultanate constantly put this issue before ourselves."

The visit of President Rouhani and his talks with His Majesty will thus usher in more prosperity and welfare for both the countries and the Omani and Iranian people. It will also bring more rapprochement and reconciliation to this vital region.