The media in Tehran and Muscat continue to resonate with applause for the relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which were further cemented by the visit of President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday.
President Raisi was quoted by 'Tehran Times' as describing the Sultanate of Oman as a "sincere and reliable friend" and said the will of the two countries to develop emerging ties is highly important.
The President went on to say that Iran sees the Sultanate of Oman as "friend" and "brother" and "we warmly press the hands of Omanis".
The newspaper also quoted him as saying that "political trust" between Iran and Oman has reached a "new stage".
During the trip, Omani and Iranian officials signed 12 cooperation documents and memorandums of understanding in various fields, including energy, politics, transportation, diplomacy, economy, tourism, sports and the environment.
The documents were signed in the presence of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Ebrahim Raisi.
The President, who returned to Tehran early on Tuesday, said good relations between the two countries will help increase cooperation across the region. He said Tehran and Muscat agree on many issues.
"In meetings with senior Omani officials, it was emphasised that it is necessary for the two countries to have this cooperation at the regional and international levels, even as the positions of the two countries are remarkably in sync on many issues'', the President said upon his arrival at Mehrabad Airport, Press TV reported.
Raisi said economic actors and traders of the two countries discussed their problems in the fields of trade, money transfer, financial, banking and customs issues in a meeting with Oman's minister of industry.
It was decided that obstacles would be removed soon to pave the way for trade and economic work, he added.
"Both Omani and Iranian traders are not much familiar with the capacities of the two countries'', he noted. "Therefore, the necessity of establishing an Iranian trade office in Oman was felt, and it was considered that this office should be established as soon as possible in order to introduce the capacities of the two countries to economic actors."
Earlier in an interview with Oman National TV, the Iranian President stressed that the greatest Iranian-Omani capital is mutual trust and called on regional and international cooperation between the two countries.
Answering a question about his evaluation of the effects and results of his visit and talks with the Sultan of Oman on the bilateral relations between the two countries, Ebrahim Raisi said, "I am very happy that I had the opportunity to travel to Oman and meet with the Sultan of Oman."
He also expressed hope that this visit would become a reason for strengthening contacts and bonds between the two countries, saying, "During the meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, we discussed ways to develop bilateral cooperation, and we affirmed that the current level of relations is good, but it is not enough, given the potential and willingness of both sides that exist in two countries."
Raisi added, "Iran and Oman would like to consolidate the level of bilateral partnership in various fields, including trade, economy, energy, especially gas and tourism".
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Monday that "the Sultanate of Oman has always worked to play a positive role in regional equations, away from alignments, conflicts and polarisations."
"Iran attaches great importance to the policy of the Sultanate of Oman, which is characterised by balance to solve problems'', the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying regarding the settlement of regional crises.
Amir-Abdollahian praised Oman's "prominent and active" role in diplomacy, opening the way for dialogue and establishing peace, pointing out that relations between Iran and Oman are progressing.
Ali Najafi, Iran's Ambassador, has described Raisi's visit to Oman as a "turning point" in relations between the two countries, telling ISNA that he is hopeful it can greatly help develop relations.
The ambassador went on to say that "relations between Iran and Oman have always been good" and such visits "especially at the level of heads of state" have always been the focus of attention.
Ambassador Najafi said the visit falls within Iran's policy of consolidating relations with neighbours.
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