Sultan Qaboos, Secretary Feltman Arrive in Tehran

Oman’s Sultan Qaboos arrived in Tehran today and met with senior Iranian leaders. Arab media reported that an objective of Sultan's visit to Tehran is to mediate between Iran and the United States. 



Sultan Qaboos met with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei this morning. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was also present during the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Javad Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor to the Supreme Leader, and Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, Head of the Office of the Supreme Leader,

Meanwhile, United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs between 2009-2012 before joining the UN, also arrived in Tehran today and held talks with new Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. (IRINN, 26 August)



Top photo: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said (L) talks with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a meeting in Tehran. August 26, 2013. (IRNA/Reuters)

Bottom photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif (R) meeting United Nations Under Secretary General Jeffrey Feltman. Tehran, 26 August 2013. (IRINN)

Sultan Qaboos to Visit Iran

Sultan Qaboos of Oman will visit Tehran next week, Mehr News Agency reported today. The surprising announcement by Iran’s foreign ministry today adds to the growing speculations that the United States and Iran are using back channels to pave the way for direct negotiations to end the nuclear impasse. Sultan Qaboos has in the past acted as intermediary in the release of a number of Americans and Westerners detained in Iran.

File photo: Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman (Mehr News Agency)