Iran Sees Grounds for Oman’s Role in Yemen Aid

“It is important for the region that Yemen be safe and stable and that we witness an end to wars and bloodshed in this region, and I hope that Muscat would play a stronger role in this regard,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Oman's Consultative Assembly Speaker Khalid Hilal bin Nasser al-Mawali in Tehran on Wednesday.

Expressing concern about the security and health problems that have engulfed Yemen as a result of a Saudi-led military campaign, the Iranian president said morality dictates that the world should provide humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people suffering from aerial bombardment and contagious diseases.

“Oman can become a center for international humanitarian aid for the people of Yemen, and it is greatly significant on historical, humanitarian and religious grounds,” he added.

The president further voiced Iran’s willingness to enhance relations with Oman in all fields, saying the free trade zones in the southern Iranian ports of Chabahar and Jask welcome investors from neighboring Oman.

For his part, the Omani speaker hailed Iran’s support for Muslims around the world, saying Oman has also launched efforts to help the people of Yemen and fulfill its humanitarian duties.

Mawali also emphasized the need for dialogue and political approaches to settling regional conflicts and establish peace.

The Omani speaker is in Tehran for the 13th conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States (PUIC).

In a Tuesday meeting with the officials participating in the conference, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called on the Islamic community to pay special attention to the ongoing developments in Muslim states, Palestine, Yemen and Bahrain in particular.