FNA - Oman�s Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Masoud al-Sunaidy said on Saturday that the removal of visa requirements for the citizens of Oman visiting Iran will boost commercial relations between the two countries.

The Omani minister made the remarks in Omani capital city of Muscat in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Oman Mohammadreza Nouri Shahroudi.


He added that the move could be considered as a significant step forward towards expanding tourism in both Iran and Oman. He went further adding that the visa removal further expands the friendly relations between the two nations.


The Iranian government announced on September 17 that Omani citizens can travel to Iran without visa.


Oman in return facilitated the visa issuing process using electronic 10-day visas which can be extended up to a year.


Iran and Oman have had good economic relations from old times and the ties have even expanded in recent years due to extended bank cooperation between the two countries.


In mid-April, Iran and its Southern neighboring country Oman agreed to finalize a cooperation pact on an offshore pipeline project.


Iran and Oman had for long been negotiating to produce LNG in its Qalhat liquefaction plant. The project involves piping gas from southern Iran to the Persian Gulf sultanate and liquefying it into LNG for shipments to international markets.


Back in early October 2017, Iranian and Omani officials in a meeting in Muscat underlined the need for the further expansion of mutual cooperation, especially in health areas.


During the meeting in the Omani capital, Head of Iran Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Mojtaba Khosrotaj and Advisor for Omani Health Minister Sultan Al Busaidi�explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating of bilateral ties, especially in health sector.