Casablanca – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani met with the sultan of Oman on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of a dialogue with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
At a time when an anti-Iran coalition is being formed between the U.S., Israel and Gulf countries, Hassan Rouhani called for an “unconditional” dialogue with Iran’s regional enemy Saudi Arabia as well as other GCC countries.
According to the Turkish news agency, Anadolu, the Iranian president delivered this message to the sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al-Said, while visiting Oman’s capital, Muscat.
This step by Iran stands at odds with the long-standing enmity between Iran and Saudi Arabia based on their battle for influence in the region and the state of indirect war between them in Yemen and Syria.
Economic World, an Iranian news agency, reported that “Rouhani’s visit sent important messages in the light of the ongoing instability in the region.” They added that Rouhani passed an “important” message to the Omani sultan — that Iran is ready for a direct and “unconditional” dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the GCC member states.
Rouhani said prior to his visit that he seeks to discuss pressing issues in the Middle East in addition to the latest developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. He also praised the “prominent Omani role in stopping bloodshed.”
As soon as Donald Trump took office in the U.S. last month, U.S.-Iranian relations deteriorated. Earlier this month, Trump’s executive order barring entry to nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries included Iranians. Iran responded by threatening to bar U.S. nationals from entering its soil.
Even before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. on Feb. 14, news sources all over the world began talking about an anti-Iran coalition that could bring together the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
