Iran leader visits Oman in outreach to Arabs

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP):

IRAN'S PRESIDENT Hassan Rouhani held talks with the leader of the nearby sultanate of Oman on Wednesday, his first official trip to an Arab country since taking office last year.

The visit is aimed at boosting bilateral relations between the two countries, though it also has the potential to further ease tensions between the Islamic Republic and Western powers. A semi-official Iranian news agency later reported that the two nations signed a $1-billion deal to build a pipeline to export gas to Oman, though there were no other immediate details released about the deal.

Oman stands out among Gulf Arab states for its ability to balance friendly relations between the two.

Rouhani, a moderate who has vowed to improve Tehran's relations with its neighbours, was accompanied by a high-ranking economic delegation for the two-day visit.

"Relations with Islamic countries, and particularly neighbouring countries are of extraordinary importance for us," Rouhani told reporters shortly before departing from Tehran.