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There was intensive interchange between Oman and Iran at high diplomatic levels in the latter half of January. At the end of December, I commented on the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the joint political committee in Muscat .

The Iranians returned to Muscat on 24th January. The Omani-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Committee held official-level talks at the Majlis Al Shura, with Oman's team led by Mohammed bin Said Al Kalbani, and the Iranian team headed by Hishmat Allah Falahet Bisha. Times of Oman

The Iranian team presented an invitation from the president of the Iranian Shura Council to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, president of Oman's Majlis Al Shura. The Persian Journal indicated that the invitation, from the speaker of the mullah-run majlis, Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, was to take part in the third international conference in support of the Palestinian Intifada in Tehran between March and April this year.

"The Omani Shura experience and the Council of Oman's contribution to the government to support national development is commendable," said Hishmat Allah. Gulf News

While in Oman, the Iranian team also met Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs, and Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Oman's minister of commerce and industry. In comments published after the meeting, Yusuf bin Alawi was reported to have 'expressed his satisfaction with the trend of increasing bilateral cooperation between the two states, and called for expansion of mutual ties in the oil and gas sector. He further expressed confidence that the Iran nuclear issue would soon be settled through the "wise policies" of the Iranian government.'

Maqbool Ali Sultan reportedly 'stressed the importance of greater private sector participation in the interest of promoting bilateral relations.' adding that Oman looked for further cooperation with Iran, particularly in the gas industry. 'The minister also stressed the need to activate the role of Oman-Iran businessmen’s councils and observed that the private sector “is the driving force for growing trade and economic ties between the two countries.” He underlined the importance of exchange visits between officials in the governorates of Muscat and Hurmoz Jan in Iran.' Khaleej Times The Iranians also met Salim bin Said al Ghattami, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs is reported to have said at his meeting with Heshmatollah Falahat-Pisheh and his delegation that 'Iran-Oman growing ties are based on deeply-rooted and stable policies, and that the two countries shoulder a great responsibility for maintaining security and stability in the region.'

Within four days of the Iranians' departure from Muscat, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah was in Tehran. Before he left, Yusuf Alawi was asked if there was a 'Gulf initiative to mediate between Iran and the European countries on the Iranian nuclear issue. Alawi said, “though there is no such initiative, the AGCC states look at this topic with concern and accord it a priority,” adding that if asked to assist in settling this topic, the AGCC states would undoubtedly do so.'

Alawi held talks with Iran’s National Security Council General Secretary, Ali Larijani, on bilateral relations, issues of common concern and the Iranian nuclear issue. Oman Observer, 1st February. On the previous day, he had had 'friendly talks' with Iranian president Ahmadinejad to exchange greetings from HM Sultan Qaboos, and also Akbar Hashmi Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Iranian Expediency Council. He also met Iran's Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki.

Kuwait News Agency reported that Alawi had said after his meeting with Larijani that 'he believed Iran was not after production of nuclear weapons, but to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.'

The Iranian media has been more forthcoming about the substance of the discussions than has the Omani English-language press. Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, claimed that "The strategy of the new Iranian government of (President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) is based on promotion of all-out ties with neighbors. Regular consultations and exchange of visits between the Iranian and Omani foreign ministers can lay the necessary groundwork in this regard."'

In this respect, he 'mentioned the trend of increasing bilateral trade exchanges, joint petrochemical and gas projects in Iran's South Pars and Chabahar regions, the opening of the Chabahar transit route to Central Asian states and the setting up of a committee to oversee economic relations as new grounds of cooperation between the two countries.'

In reply, Alawi said said mutual relations with Iran was based on "deep-rooted friendship between the two nations." He expressed his country's readiness to expand economic relations with Tehran including industrial cooperation and activation of the transit route between the two countries. Bin Alawi said that 'strengthening of regional cooperation in light of current circumstances was an "inevitable urgency." He also said a national united government in Iraq could have positive consequences, adding that Oman understood the common interests of the Iraqi and Iranian nations.' Iranian News Agency

At a joint press conference with Alawi, Mottaki warned that '"If the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decides to refer Iran's nuclear case to the Security Council in its next meeting (Feb 2), the Additional Protocol will be the first victim of such a decision. Criticizing the decision to hold the emergency meeting, Mottaki said that it would have been better if "our hasty friends in Europe" wait until the IAEA governing board's scheduled ordinary meeting on March 6. In that case, added the FM, "there would be more opportunities to hold negotiations and reach an understanding that is satisfactory for both sides."'

On Jack Straw's, the British foreign minister's, admission that 'Iran had been badly treated by the international community in the past, Mottaki noted "We advise them (the Europeans) to avoid adopting hasty and wrong policies toward Iran," pointing out that Tehran was itself in favor of having its nuclear case settled through "effective talks that will lead to a comprehensive understanding."'
Iranian News Agency

The Tehran Times reported Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as telling Alawi that 'it has become difficult for the countries that claim to uphold democracy to tolerate democracy in Iraq and Palestine. The Westerners don’t want real democracy, and the democracy in Iraq and Palestine has become a scourge for them.'

'The occupiers said they went to war with Iraq in order to establish democracy there, but the measures carried out in the country have proven that they are not honest and do not practice what they preach, Rafsanjani observed. The EC chairman noted that the Westerners’ propaganda campaign against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program is an attempt to deflect attention from their defeats in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Palestine.'

It's not easy to work out exactly what Oman's position is amongst all this rhetoric. Yusuf bin Alawi's reported comments, such as they are, have been suitably diplomatic and low-key. Iran took the opportunity to relay its own policies at joint press conferences held with the Omani foreign minister. Other than a statement of the occurrence of his meetings, the Omani English-language press held no report on the visit.

But I did also note the British Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells had talks with Yusuf bin Alawi in Muscat a week before Alawi's visit to Tehran. A long article in the Times of Oman tells how Howells had discussed with Alawi 'a wide range of issues about counter-terrorism, and counter narcotics, about the situation in Iraq and Iran, about the Middle East peace process and on wider concerns about the role that Oman plays in a whole range of international organisations.'

'While stressing on the friendly relationship shared by Britain with Iran, Kim said: “We cooperate closely with Iran on its borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan to stop narcotics trafficking. We know that Iran is a great country, but what worries us is that if nuclear weapons from whatever country are suddenly used, perhaps, in a local conflict then it is a disaster for the whole world. We want to be friends with the people of Iran. We don’t understand why Iranian President Ahmedjinejad says the things he says about Israel and about the West.”'

A personal visit would be a sound opportunity to relay points of view.