Iranian, Omani foreign ministers discuss bilateral ties, regional issues amid unrest in Iran

By Tolga Akbaba, Basar Bayatlı and Tarek Chouiref

ISTANBUL (AA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Saturday with his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi, in Tehran to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international developments, local media reported.

Speaking after the meeting, Araghchi said Busaidi’s visit reflected the solid ties between Tehran and Muscat and underscored both sides’ interest in expanding cooperation, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency said.

He said the talks focused on enhancing bilateral engagement, supporting regional security and promoting stability, while also addressing developments related to the Palestinian issue and the situations in Yemen, Lebanon and Syria.

Araghchi said he shared details of his recent visit to Lebanon with the Omani minister and praised Oman’s longstanding role as a constructive and balanced mediator in the region.

Referring to recent comments by US President Donald Trump about the ongoing protests in Iran, Araghchi said no country has the authority to interfere in the internal affairs of another state or impose external dictates.

He warned that attempts by Israel to weaken or fragment countries in the region would only deepen instability and undermine trust among regional actors.

Busaidi, for his part, said Muscat is keen to further develop relations with Iran across various sectors.

He added that preparations are underway for an upcoming meeting of the joint Iranian-Omani economic committee, noting that his discussions with Araghchi included productive exchanges on regional issues.

The visit comes amid nationwide protests in Iran that erupted in late December, largely driven by a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial and deteriorating economic conditions.

The demonstrations began on Dec. 28 near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar before spreading to several cities across the country. There are no official estimates on casualties, but the non-governmental organization HRANA put the death toll at 65 people and over 2,300 others detained.