Iran says seeks better relations with Gulf neighbors

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran said Monday that it is seeking to have good relations with its Gulf neighbors, according to IRNA news agency.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran was seeking to have a good relationship with its neighbors in the Persian Gulf region to strengthen neighbors' network,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in statements during his visit to Oman.

The top Iranian diplomat said Tehran “was interested in upgrading political and cultural relations with Oman to high levels of economic and business cooperation."

During his visit, Amirabdollahian met with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and conveyed to him greetings of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the Omani news agency reported.

Talks between the two sides dwelt on regional developments and efforts to establish security and stability in the region, the agency reported.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Amirabdollahian may visit one of the countries bordering the Gulf, without naming it.

Tension has marred relations between Iran and its Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, amid accusations of launching a proxy war for regional influence.

*Writing by Bassel Barakat in Ankara