MUSCAT - On Monday, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad lauded the strong relations between Tehran and Muscat and called for the expansion of bilateral ties.

“Relations between the two states and peoples of Iran and Oman are strong and stable and an exemplification of brotherly and friendly ties,” Ahmadinejad told Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Sa’id Al Bu Sa’id in Muscat.

“We regard your development and security as our own development and security,” Ahmadinejad told Sultan Qaboos. He pointed out that certain countries do not want regional countries to live in peace and security, saying, “They have come from a long distance and interfere and try to ruin the brotherhood among the countries by fomenting disputes.”

“The presence of these countries in Iraq has brought the Iraqi nation nothing but destruction,” he said.

The Iraqi people themselves should solve their own problems, the president stated.

He went on to say that U.S. policies in the region and elsewhere have failed. “Now there is a good opportunity for regional countries to join hands and establish peace and security by themselves, and Iran and Oman can be pioneers in this path.”

Sultan Qaboos called for the expansion of bilateral ties and said that Iran and Oman should make the utmost efforts to establish peace and security in the region.

Noting that the great obstacle in the way of peace and understanding is lack of trust, he said, “No one benefits from trusting outsiders. “Over the course of history, the major powers have always tried to control countries through the ‘divide and rule’ policy. This is a trap we should avoid.”

The two countries also discussed ways to expand cooperation in the economic, oil, and gas spheres.