TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Oman�s Central Bank chief said the Arab country is interested in launching branches of Omani banks in Iran, and expressed the hope that Iranian authorities would facilitate the required process.

In a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Valiollah Seif, Executive President of Central Bank of Oman (CBO) Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali hailed the past banking ties between Tehran and Muscat, and voiced the country�s willingness to expand its bilateral ties with Iran.

He proposed an offer for establishment of Omani banks� branches in Iran, saying, �We are commissioned by high-ranking Omani authorities to pave the way for launch of Omani banks� branches in Iran and hope that the grounds would be prepared with the Iranian side�s assistance.�

Zadjali added that a number of Omani banks will send their request to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) as soon as possible.

Seif, for his part, said that Tehran will never forget Muscat�s support throughout the hard days of sanctions.

�We hope that under the current circumstances, this friendship and cooperation would be reinforced, and we could facilitate banking communications between the two countries by removing certain barriers,� the CBI chief added.

�Oman has had good cooperation with Iran, and the CBI is tasked by the country�s president to expand and promote the banking ties between the two countries,� Seif stated.

He also welcomed the establishment of Omani banks in Iran, saying that Tehran is interested in promotion of banking ties between the two countries commercial banks through the launch of representative offices or branches.

The remarks came after Iran�s president and Oman�s foreign minister in a Sunday meeting in Tehran weighed plans for enhancement of bilateral economic ties in a range of fields, with both sides voicing readiness to facilitate investment activities of the two countries� private sectors.

�The relations between Iran and Oman, which are based upon friendship, fraternity and mutual trust, are exemplary, and Tehran welcomes the expansion of economic cooperation with Muscat,� Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at a meeting with Oman�s Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi in Tehran.

The president also called for efforts to seize the opportunities for economic cooperation, ushered in by the termination of anti-Iran sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

President Rouhani noted that the private sectors of Iran and Oman can promote cooperation in the development of ports, civil aviation, railroad transportation and banking activities.

By Tasnim News Agency