March 18, The Iran Project - Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf Bin Alawi arrived in Tehran Friday night (March 16)�on a two-day visit for talks with high-ranking Iranian officials on bilateral ties and regional issues.

While in Tehran, he held talks with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Governor Valiollah Seif, Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, President Hassan Rouhani and�President�s Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on Sunday (March 18) that the top Iranian diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif has cancelled his plans and meetings scheduled for Saturday and Sunday due to the worsening of his physical condition, which necessitated his hospitalization for a few hours.

Bin Alawi also has phoned his Iranian counterpart to wish him get well soon.

Talking to Omani FM, Shamkhani said Iran will appropriately respond to US repeated violations of the nuclear deal and will not accept any changes to it.

Alawi, in turn, said "we have always believed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a friend, partner and reliable neighbor, and we praise its role in creating stability and security in the region."

Speaking to Seif, the Omani FM said banking relations between Iran and Oman are growing thanks to the will and determination of the high-ranking officials of the two countries and we hope that beside growing diplomatic ties, our economic and banking relations grow as we are neighboring countries.

Seif, for his part, welcomed the presence of Omani banks in Iran to have switch services between the banking cards of the two countries.

In a meeting with Omani FM, Larijani urged Europeans not to mix JCPOA with the country�s missile program, adding they should stick to their commitments under the nuclear deal and pressurize the US into fulfilling its obligations.

�Some countries are worried about Iran�s defence capability and missile programs but there is no reason for this concern. Given the current situation of the region, Iran is entitled to improve its military power as part of a mechanism to defend its own security,� bin Alawi said.

Talking to bin Alawi, President Hassan Rouhani stated Iran is determined to develop relations with Oman in all fields of mutual interest.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani said it is imperative to expand banking cooperation and facilitate the exchange of visits between the Iranian and Omani tradesmen in order to develop business and economic relations.

Bin Alawi also said his country is working hard to take new steps in the direction of deepening commercial and cultural cooperation between Tehran and Muscat.

During a meeting with visiting Omani foreign minister, Vaezi reiterated that there are no barriers hindering the expansion of bilateral relation between Iran and Oman, adding economic ties should expand along with political ones.

Yusuf bin Alawi, in turn, pointed to his country's willingness to expand relations between the two countries in various areas, emphasizing the need to promote Tehran-Muscat economic relations, in line with high-level political relations between the two sides.