A high-ranking Omani delegation, led by the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah and Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, met Iranian oil and trade ministers in Tehran on Sunday to bolster bilateral economic ties.
In a meeting between Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and the two visiting Omani ministers, the both sides emphasized the need to expand relations, especially in the fields of oil and gas, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
*** Study on Iran-Oman gas pipeline complete by next 6 months
Building the planned Iran-Oman gas pipeline was the main subject of the meeting.
The Omani foreign affairs minister said study on the building of the pipeline will be finished by the next six months, according to the Shana news agency.
After the meeting, Zanganeh told reporters that his negotiations with the Omani officials have been fruitful, adding that Iran and Oman are keen to expand their economic ties and make joint investment, and are taking the necessary steps to do so.
He referred to making joint investment in refining, oil storage, and development of petrochemical industries in both countries as the other fields the both sides negotiated for the expansion of bilateral cooperation.
In March 2014, Iran and Oman signed a memorandum of understanding under which Iran will supply Oman with 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year in a 25-year deal valued at around $60 billion. Since then, however, the project pipeline has stalled over the imposition of West-engineered sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The proposed pipeline is projected to transfer natural gas from Iran’s South Pars gas field to Oman’s Sohar port.
Oman last month said it expected speedier completion of the pipeline under the Persian Gulf now that sanctions on Iran have been lifted.
*** Facilitating visa issuance, making joint ventures
Also in a separate meeting between Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Mohammadreza Ne’matzadeh and the two ministers of Oman, the Omani officials said their country is serious in strengthening ties with Iran.
The Omani minister of commerce and industry referred to removing obstacles in expansion of trade ties between the two countries as the main factor to be noted.
He mentioned facilitation of visa issuance for Iranian and Omani traders, creating close ties through the ports, and making joint ventures as some areas for cooperation.
The Omani officials also pointed to importing copper from Iran and processing it inside Oman as the other field apt for cooperation.
“We also hope for importing Iranian gas and implementing some joint projects in the petrochemical sector”, he added.
Ne’matzadeh for his part stressed making joint investment in the fields of railway, air and maritime transportation as well as oil and gas.
He announced about starting the activity of an Iranian car manufacturing company in Oman in the near future and said, “We are also prepared to do the same job in other fields such as metals and petrochemicals”.