TEHRAN (Iran News)  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, currently visiting Oman for talks with the United States, held discussions with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, on Sunday.

The fourth round of talks, mediated by the Omani foreign minister, is scheduled to take place today.

Araqchi expressed gratitude to the Omani government for hosting and facilitating the discussions on lifting anti-Iran sanctions.

Araqchi also elaborated on the Islamic Republic’s principled stances on the negotiations.

The Omani foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s determination to facilitate the talks, updating his Iranian counterpart on preparations for this round of negotiations.

Leading a delegation, Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Muscat on Sunday morning. Before his departure, Araqchi told reporters in Tehran that uranium enrichment is an achievement of the Iranian nation, attained at great cost, including the sacrifices of nuclear scientists; therefore, it is unequivocally non-negotiable.

He expressed hope that this round of talks would proceed constructively, emphasizing that negotiation-related matters should be addressed at the discussion table, not through media outlets.

Araqchi expressed gratitude to the Omani government for hosting and facilitating the discussions on lifting anti-Iran sanctions.

Araqchi also elaborated on the Islamic Republic’s principled stances on the negotiations.

The Omani foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s determination to facilitate the talks, updating his Iranian counterpart on preparations for this round of negotiations.

Leading a delegation, Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Muscat on Sunday morning. Before his departure, Araqchi told reporters in Tehran that uranium enrichment is an achievement of the Iranian nation, attained at great cost, including the sacrifices of nuclear scientists; therefore, it is unequivocally non-negotiable.

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“In several visits to Iran, I have become familiar with Iranian products, companies, and industries closely,” Al Hinai said, highlighting the significance of research and development.

“Oman can be a gateway for Iranian companies to access the international market,” he added, Mehr news agency reported.

He also suggested creating a network of universities in the Islamic world to lead joint technological working groups.

Khayatian, for his part, said that about 9,300 knowledge-based companies and almost the same number of start-ups are operating in 45 science and technology parks in the country which shows Iran’s high capacity in the field of science and technology.

“Despite the cruel sanctions over the past few decades, the export of knowledge-based products has roughly reached one billion dollars per year,” he added.

Iran, Oman share experience in ICT

On October 28, a discussion session was held between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of information and communication technology.

The Omani side was headed by Saeed bin Hamoud al Ma’awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, while the Iranian side was represented by Issa Zarepour, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Times of Oman reported.

During the session, bilateral relations were reviewed, and discussions were held on strengthening the existing cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of information and communication technology, in a way that serves their common interests and brings more benefits to the two friendly peoples.

The Iranian official also met with the Omani Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrooqi and the head of the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed joint academic and research collaborations and made suggestions about the axes of these collaborations.

Referring to the activities of Iran’s Communications and Information Technology Research Institute, Zarepour introduced the capacities of this institute and other Iranian technology parks and called for joint cooperation of Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation with Iranian institutions.

The Omani minister welcomed this proposal and it was agreed that by forming a working group, the existing axes for cooperation would be examined and explored in expert meetings.

Iran ready to share technological expertise

In May, the deputy science minister said Iran is ready to share its technological expertise with other Islamic countries.

Science and technology should be applied in order to create world peace and human justice, and Muslim countries can bring peace and progress not only to the Muslim nations but also to human beings with unity and empathy, Vahid Haddadi-Asl said, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks at the 1st Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dialogue Platform (OIC-15) which was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on May 25-26.

The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its duty to support science and technology diplomacy between Islamic countries, through conducting joint scientific projects in areas needed by Islamic countries, he highlighted.

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During the conversation, the two officials underlined the need to continue consultations over different bilateral and international issues, the Iranian foreign ministry said.

Amir Abdollahian extended the greetings of the Iranian president to Oman’s sultan. He also discussed with the top Omani diplomat different bilateral issues and also the settlement of regional crises through dialog among regional nations. The Iranian foreign minister expressed hope that he will have the opportunity to visit Muscat as soon as possible.

The Omani foreign minister also hailed good relations between the two countries. Albusaidi said the Sultanate of Oman always believes in dialog and talks as the means to resolve different crises and moves on the path of peace.

The conversation came after Iran and Oman held strategic consultations during a visit by senior Omani diplomat to Tehran.

Senior diplomats from Iran and Oman held the eighth round of strategic consolations in the framework of a joint committee between the two countries in Tehran in late December.

The committee, formally known as the Joint Committee for Strategic Consultations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman, was formed to facilitate diplomatic dialogue and consultation between Tehran and Muscat.

The eighth meeting of the joint committee was co-chaired by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs and his Omani counterpart Sheikh Khalifa al-Harthy.

Referring to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two countries, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the level of relations and efforts to develop it on the basis of mutual trust.

Emphasizing the need to resolve regional issues by the countries of the region, Bagheri expressed hope that the existing problems would be resolved through dialogue between the countries of the region, according to ISNA.

Al-Harthy, referring to Iran’s pivotal role in the region, said that his country, as in the past, is interested in developing bilateral and regional relations and considers peaceful paths necessary for peace and tranquility in the region.

In addition to bilateral issues, the two sides discussed various regional and international issues, including the Vienna talks, the need for a political solution to the crisis in Yemen, and the region’s need for dialogue.

Al-Harthy said, “Iran-Oman relations had regional and trans-regional influences and will continue.”

At the end of the meeting, the minutes of the eighth meeting of the Strategic Consultation Committee of Iran and Oman were signed by the deputy foreign ministers of the two countries.

The Omani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that during the meeting, Bagheri and al-Harthy discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries, especially the economic, investment and trade exchange aspects.

The statement also said that al-Harthy met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on the sidelines of his visit to Tehran. “This meeting emphasized the importance of Omani–Iranian relations and the importance of meetings and consultations to exchange views on topics and issues of common interest to both countries and the region as a whole,” it said of the meeting with Amir Abdollahian.

In this meeting, Amir Abdollahian said improving and expanding relations with neighbors is a priority of the foreign policy of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration. He also emphasized the significance of Oman’s special position among neighbors, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Amir Abdollahian also stressed the need for Iran and Oman to work to enhance the volume of trade between the two countries at the level of friendly relations.

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Head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) Hamid Zadboom and Undersecretary Saleh Said Masan of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman held an online meeting of the follow-up committee of the 18th meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Economic Cooperation Committee on Tuesday, where the two sides expressed their country’s interest in developing economic and trade relations with each other.

During this virtual meeting, the officials of the two sides conferred on the MoUs signed during the Joint Commission, which was held in Tehran in December 2019.

They also discussed signing the mutual roadmap to develop bilateral economic ties by 2023, developing cooperation between the private sectors of the two sides, resumption of trade events after the pandemic, and facilitating direct maritime transport between the two countries.

They also get prepared the documents supporting and encouraging investment, agriculture, customs, and maritime transport to be signed during the upcoming joint economic committee.

In the end, the two sides agreed to hold a joint committee for cooperation between the two countries in Muscat in the near future.

The 18th Iran-Oman Joint Economic Committee meeting kicked off in Tehran on December 7, 2019, with ministers of two sides in attendance.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Iran is determined to expand economic cooperation with Oman with an eye on developing this Persian Gulf Arab state.

Iran-Oman Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting online in Tehran where the participants announced the future plans of the chamber which are focused on boosting tourism, industry, mine, transportation, fishery and easing the ground for presence of Iranian economic activists in Oman despite current problems in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing the meeting, Head of Iran-Oman Chamber of Commerce, Mohsen Zarrabi, pointed to the current bilateral relation of both states and termed it good. He further said that fortunately since 2013, the infrastructures for Iran-Oman relations have been in good condition and Oman is a good destination for export and re-export for Iranian products.

Zarrabi noted that of course appropriate infrastructures have been prepared for imports from Oman which is undeniable.

He stated that in 20013, the trade volume between both states stood at $221m which has gradually grown five-fold in recent years and the figure stood at $1.16b at 2018, admitting that the trade volume faced a downtrend in 2019 and fell to $694m.

Zarrabi blamed the U.S. sanctions, some sudden changes in regulations and overnight bans which are announced in the country for this decline in trade with Oman. He admitted that unexpected changes in regulations have upset Omanis and they have lost their trust for continuing trade with Iran.

He also said that stability in the macro-economic policies of the country for developing export markets is crucial and inevitable.

Zarrabi reiterated that without stability and planning, successful export cannot be achieved, adding due to the current forex condition of Iran, non-oil exports and forex revenues of the country are very important and the government should provide infrastructures for developing exports.

He also pointed to the facilities which have been provided by Omani government for Iranian traders as they can get visas upon their arrivals in the country and this decision has eased the way for cooperation for Iranian private sector traders.

Zarrabi also pointed to the outbreak of the coronavirus, saying that at the time of pandemic when most countries had closed their borders to Iran’s exports, Oman was the only country which kept its border open to Iran.

He further said both countries have started cooperation on tourism sector since 2018 and so fat the number of health and religious tourists has reached 86,000.

He noted that Oman is rich in terms of mineral resources and both countries can boost their bilateral cooperation in this sector by having joint investment.

Zarrabi added that talks are underway for boosting cooperation in other sectors like fishery and transportation.

The general meeting was held online and it was the first experience of the chamber for meeting online.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran Ambassador to Muscat Mohammad Reza Nouri-Shahroudi and Oman Education Minister Madeeha bint Ahmed al-Shibaniyah met on Wednesday to explore the ways of boosting academic cooperation between the two countries.

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The meeting between Iranian FM, Mohamad Javad Zarif, and Omani FM in Muscat, came after the Omani minister visited Tehran early in December and in July.

The visits came at the time tensions between Iran and the US had deteriorated following Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and its military buildup in the Persian Gulf.

Despite being part of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, Oman has for long maintained an independent foreign policy and has been able to successfully project itself as a mediator in regional disputes.

Under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, Muscat was active in facilitating negotiations between the United States and Iran during the Obama administration which eventually led to the signing of the Iran nuclear agreement.

In the past, Muscat also played the role of a mediator between Iran and the Persian Gulf Arab countries, as it maintains good relations with Tehran.

The two countries also cooperate in various military spheres.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif left Tehran for Omani capital, Muscat, on Monday.

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