US Defense Secretary Robert Gates will meet with Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said in Muscat, where he reportedly will discuss Iran's standoff with the West over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, Iran daily news reported.
"The talks are expected to cover issues regarding Iran, the instability in Oman's neighbor Yemen, as well as the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," AP quoted a senior US defense official as telling reporters in Washington on Sunday.
"The visit was mainly a courtesy call as Oman celebrates the 40th anniversary of the reign of Sultan Qaboos," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Qaboos has been active in seeking a diplomatic solution to issues concerning Iran," the official noted.
Oman, which has good relations with both the United States and Iran, played a key role in brokering the release of Sarah Emily Shourd, one of the three Americans who were arrested after illegally entering Iran from northern Iraq on July 31, 2009.
Tehran later accused Shourd, 32, Shane Michael Bauer and Joshua Felix Fattal, both 28, of spying.
The three American detainees were charged with espionage after Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi announced that he had found "compelling evidence" that the trio had been cooperating with US intelligence agencies.
However, on September 14 the judiciary agreed to release Shourd on a bail of $500,000. She was then transferred to Oman, where she was reunited with her family, before leaving for the US.
Bauer and Fattal will remain in jail and the trio will have to stand trial for espionage.
Valued Relationship
Elsewhere in his remarks, the US Defense Department official said "One of the things we highly value in the relationship with the Sultan is the fact that he is widely regarded as an honest broker in the region. He's someone who enjoys a lot of respect from all parties."
The official went on to say "In Gates' meetings with Sultan Qaboos and with Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al-Busaidi, Oman's defense minister, the discussions will cover a broad range of regional issues," the official said.
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