TEHRAN, Jan 14 (NNN-FNA) — Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah has criticized trans-regional powers for deploying their troops and naval fleets in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman as such measures run counter to international rules.

“We believe that the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman should be free seas for international navigation and no change should take place there and they should not turn these places ruled by parading fleets of warships,” bin Alawi said in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki here on Wednesday.

He stressed that his country does not accept the presence of foreign military forces in these secure regions as he views such a move as a violation of the international rules and regulations.

Elsewhere, Alawi said that he had conveyed a message from Omani King Qaboos bin Said al-Said to the Iranian president during his earlier meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but did not reveal the details of the message.

He also urged Iranian companies to cooperate with Oman in completing projects in the Arab country.

The Omani foreign minister further pointed out that during his earlier meeting with Mottaki he has extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart to pay a visit to his country.

Bin Alawi also said that during the meeting he had underlined Iran’s strategic role in the region. “Iran can act as the strategic economic point in the region,” Alawi said.

Reminding Iran’s geographical position as a bridge linking the Persian Gulf and Central Asia, the Omani foreign minister expressed his country’s willingness to expand cooperation with Iran in economic, industrial, development and trade fields.

– NNN-FNA

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