At the end of a six-day joint commission meeting in Muscat, Iranian and Omani military officials signed Friday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost military cooperation at different levels, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
The 15th Omani-Iranian Military Friendship Joint Committee was held in Muscat from 14-19 April 2019. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Qadir Nezami, and Brigadier Hamad bin Rashid al Balushi, Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Operations and Planning.
During the six-day event, the two sides discussed a range of topics that would contribute to strengthening ties of the existing cooperation in military fields between the two friendly countries. Activities of the joint commission were also reviewed during the talks.
In line with the plans to build stronger relations, the military forces of Iran and Oman held joint naval rescue and relief exercises in the waters of Oman on Thursday.
Units from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force of Oman, as well as the Border Guard Brigade along with units from the Navy of Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the Navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), took part in the drills.
Iran’s Ambassador to Muscat Mohammad Reza Nouri Shahroudi, who was also present during this week's talks, highlighted the growth in ties between the two neighboring nations in the area of defense and trade.
Announcing that two neighbors plan to create a new direct shipping route by the end of this month, the diplomat said the enhancement of maritime transportation between Iran and Oman help further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
The Ambassador added that Iran-Oman trade hit $700 million in an 11-month period during 2018-2019.
On Wednesday, the Iranian and Omani naval forces held joint rescue and relief maneuvers in the waters near the coasts of Oman in a show of stronger ties between the two countries.
The drills were staged near the coast of Masqat within the framework of the Omani-Iranian Military Friendship Joint Committee, the media center of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported on Wednesday.
Units from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force of Oman as well as the Border Guard Brigade along with units from the Iranian Army’s Navy and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Navy participated in the drills, FNA added.
On Tuesday, Mohammed bin Nasser al-Rasbi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense in the Sultanate of Oman received in his office in Muscat (photo) Brigadier General Dr. Qadeer Nizami, Deputy Chief of Iranian Armed Forces for International Affairs, Head of the Iranian side in the Omani-Iranian Military Friendship Joint Committee, and his accompanying delegation.
The two sides exchanged viewpoints and discussed several matters of common concern, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.
For his part, Lt. General Ahmed bin Harith al-Nabhani, Chief-of-Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) also received in his office at Mu’askar Al Murtafa’ on Tuesday Brigadier General Dr. Qadeer Nizami.
The two sides exchanged conversations on several matters of common concern within the framework of the Omani-Iranian Military Friendship Joint Committee’s duties.
The visit of the Iranian delegation to the Sultanate comes within the framework of its participation in deliberations of the annual regular meeting of the Omani-Iranian Military Friendship Joint Committee.
The meeting was attended by Brigadier General Hamad bin Rashid al-Balushi, SAF Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Operations and Planning, Head of the Omani side in the Committee and SAF Senior Officers.
