Sultan Qaboos of Oman arrives in Tehran

Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman arrived in Tehran on Tuesday heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation.

This is the first visit to Iran by the Omani king after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Sultan Qaboos and his entourage were welcomed at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, and Vice-President for Executive Affairs Ali Saeedlou.

He is the first foreign guest of President Mahmoud Ahmdinejad arriving in Iran just one day after Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed his second term on Monday.

Oman’s ministers of foreign affairs, commerce and economy are accompanying Sultan Qaboos.

He will be officially welcomed by President Ahmadinejad within hours.

Sultan Qaboos is to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials to discuss major bilateral, regional and international issues and promotion of bilateral cooperation, in particular.

A diplomatic source had earlier said in Oman that Sultan Qaboos’ visit to Iran aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations that enjoy a long history of friendly ties.

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