Oman's top diplomat in Iran talks amid Gulf tensions

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Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs Yusuf bin Alawi held talks with Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday, Iranian media reported, as tensions mount in the Gulf after Tehran detained a British-flagged oil tanker.

"The visit was conducted in the framework of bilateral relations and continuous consultations of the two countries with the aim of exchanging views on recent regional developments, bilateral relations,... and international issues," state television reported.

Tensions surge as U.S. accuses Iran of attacking tankers

Oman's foreign ministry said on Twitter the two ministers discussed stability and security in the region and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, shared by the two countries and which is the only route in and out of the Gulf.

Stena Impero being seized and detained between July 19 and July 21, 2019 near strait of Hormuz, Iran. /VCG Photo

Oman maintains friendly ties with both the United States and Iran and has previously been a go-between for the two countries, which severed diplomatic relations after the 1979 Iranian revolution.

Tensions in the Gulf have soared since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions on the country.

In retaliation, Iran said in May it would disregard certain limits the deal set on its nuclear programme and threatened to take further measures if remaining parties to the deal, especially European nations, did not help it circumvent U.S. sanctions.

UK threatens Iran with larger military presence by West in Gulf

Tensions between Iran and Britain also escalated after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a British-flagged oil tanker on July 19. That came two weeks after British forces captured an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar, accused of violating sanctions on Syria.

Oman has called for the release of the UK-flagged Stena Impero and for London and Tehran to resolve their dispute diplomatically.

(Cover: Oman's minister responsible for foreign affairs Yusuf bin Alawi (L) shakes hands with Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran, Iran, July 27, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

(With input from AFP, Reuters)