Iranian foreign minister arrives in Oman for talks

The state-run Oman News Agency reported on Monday that Mohammad Javad Zarif was met by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, the minister responsible for foreign affairs, on his arrival in Muscat. (Photo By Bundesministerium für Europa, CC BY 2.0)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s foreign minister has arrived in Oman for a daylong visit with officials in the sultanate, which has served as a crucial link between Iran and the U.S. in the past.

The state-run Oman News Agency reported on Monday that Mohammad Javad Zarif was met by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, the minister responsible for foreign affairs, on his arrival in Muscat.

Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported that Zarif will speak with Omani officials about the wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and other issues.

Zarif is due to travel to Qatar on Tuesday. His visit to the peninsular nation comes as four Arab nations are boycotting Qatar over its alleged support for extremists and what they say are Qatar’s overly warm ties to Iran.

Qatar denies supporting extremists.