Baku, Azerbaijan, April 7
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The Omani-Iranian Joint Military Friendship Committee's meeting began in Muscat on the sidelines of the two countries' joint naval exercise.
Naval forces of Iran and Oman started joint search and rescue drills in the Sea of Oman on April 6, Iranian Fars news agency reported on April 7.
During the joint meeting, the two sides will discuss a number of topics listed on the agenda that would contribute to promoting the level of relations and strengthening the existing cooperation ties in the military field.
The Iranian side is headed by deputy Chief of Staff of Armed Forces for Operational Affairs Brig Gen Mostafa Salami while it is chaired from the Omani side by Brig Rashid bin Saif al Shidi, deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Planning.
Earlier in Sep. 2013 Oman's minister responsible for defense matters, Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidi and Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan signed a defense cooperation memorandum. Cooperation on fighting against drug and human trafficking and boosting mutual educational and cultural ties between the two countries` armed forces are among the articles of the memorandum.
Iran and Oman staged a joint naval relief and rescue drill in February 2011. Four Omani vessels, two fighter jets and one maritime helicopter as well as four Iranian naval ships participated in the drill.
Oman and Iran, which share control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, maintain friendly relations.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.