Iran-Oman Military Committee Hold Session

Senior Iranian and Omani military officials held a two-day meeting on mutual cooperation.

The latest session of the 10th Iran-Oman Joint Military Committee meeting was dedicated to the finalization of a draft agreement introduced to the committee.

Addressing the session, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for Operational Affairs Brigadier General Mostafa Salami hoped that the agreement would further enhance military ties and cooperation between the two Persian Gulf littoral states.

Assistant Chief of Staff of Oman’s Armed Forces Rashed bin Seif bin Al-Rashidi, who headed the Omani side in the meeting, also praised Iran’s enthusiasm to cooperate with his country, saying that the attitude ‘signifies our friendship and brotherhood’.

He said the Omani delegation’s talks with Iranian commanders were ‘fruitful and served both countries’ interests’.

Al-Rashidi visited Tehran at the head of a high-ranking Omani military delegation to take part in the 10th session of the two countries’ joint military committee.

During the 10th Iran-Oman Joint Military Committee meeting, General Salami voiced Tehran’s willingness to boost cooperation with the sultanate to protect security in the region.

“The two countries of Iran and Oman share joint interests, common concerns and shared views. They hold independent views on international and political issues and have good neighborly relations, mutual respect, and constructive and friendly ties,” Salami said.

He further hoped that Oman would continue the current positive trend in its bilateral ties with Iran on both regional and international issues.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the joint military committee meeting, Salami said Iranian and Omani armed forces are scheduled to hold joint rescue and relief drills in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas next winter.

The commander said that the joint exercises will be held in the Iranian month of Dey (December 21, 2012-January 19, 2013). Regarding the agreements in the joint meeting, Salami said that the two sides agreed on logistic support for the Iranian flotilla in Omani ports, joint drills especially in rescue and relief in a bid to prepare grounds for joint maneuvers at higher levels, reciprocal military visits and presence of military observers in the two countries’ military wargames.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with bin Saif Al-Rashidi, Iran Police Chief Brigadier General Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam said cooperation between Iran and Oman has resulted in an increase in regional security.
The police chief said the two countries are working together to prevent drug and human trafficking as well as goods smuggling, Press TV reported.

Ahmadi-Moqaddam said Iran had seized 10 tons of illicit drugs which were destined for Oman in the previous Iranian year (ended March 19).
He said some of the existing problems are the result of the occupation of Afghanistan, which has increased the production of narcotics and spread terrorism in the region.

The police chief highlighted the large sums Iran has spent on border control and the “good results” it has achieved. Ahmadi-Moqaddam said despite enemy efforts to portray Iran as a threat to the entire region, the country is steadily progressing in all fields.

The Omani military commander, for his part, lauded Iranian police efforts to fight drug trafficking, emphasizing that the two countries are trying to maintain peace in the Sea of Oman.