Iran Attaches Great Importance to Persian Gulf Littoral States: Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Tehran attaches high significance to the littoral states south of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday prior to his visit to Oman.
President Rouhani on Wednesday morning left Tehran for the Sultanate of Oman in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties and sign a broad range of agreements with the Arab state.
Heading a high-ranking delegation comprised of a number of his cabinet ministers and aides, President Rouhani made his first official visit to a Persian Gulf state since taking the office in August 2013.
The Iranian chief executive has already visited several foreign states during his tenure, albeit to participate in various international conferences or official gatherings, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the UN General Assembly.
However, the trip to Oman marks Rouhani’s first tour of a foreign country as an official diplomatic visit, with the talk of bilateral relations on the agenda.
Speaking to reporters at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport before departing for Muscat, President Rouhani said his trip takes place at the invitation of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
The Omani Sultan had in August travelled to Tehran to be the first head of state to pay an official visit to Iran during Rouhani’s term.
Elsewhere in his comment in the airport, President Rouhani said he plans to boost bilateral ties with Oman in his trip, and added, “The Islamic countries, particularly the neighbors, are of extraordinary importance for Iran.”
He underlined that Tehran attaches even greater significance to the littoral states south of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, mainly because of the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Oman, which lies on one side of the Strait of Hormuz, is of special importance for us, who stand on the other side of the strait.”
Rouhani also made a reference to Sultan Qaboos’ August visit to Iran, noting that Tehran and Muscat signed many agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) at the time.
“Also in this trip” added Rouhani “we will make new agreements in the economic and trade fields, especially on oil, gas, as well as monetary and cultural issues.”
He stressed that the “sensitive” issue of the regional developments will be also discussed with the Omani authorities.
Iran’s ministers of foreign affairs, oil, industry and trade, road and transportation, and labor, besides the vice-president and head of the cultural, handicrafts and tourism organization, deputy health minister, and a number of other senior officials accompany the Iranian president.