Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister holds talks in Oman

SANAA, Nov. 11 (YPA) – Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived in Oman on Monday for talks with officials.

This is the first official visit since Bin Salman took office in the kingdom.

Oman enjoys good relations with Iran, and it has reportedly recently played an active mediation role between Tehran and Riyadh.

According to the Moral Guidance account of the Omani Ministry of Defense, on Twitter, “Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks with Omani Defense Affairs Minister Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi at the ministry’s headquarters.”

During the meeting, they exchanged talks about the march of fraternal relations between the authority and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Oman comes just days after a senior Saudi official said the kingdom had open communication Channels with Ansarallah (Houthis) in Yemen.

Talks between the two sides are taking place intensively,  AFP reported on Wednesday.

Last August, the Wall Street Journal, citing what it described as “informed sources,” revealing that the current U.S. administration had begun direct negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Ansarullah in Yemen in an effort to resolve Yemen’s escalating crisis nearly four years ago.

Khalid bin Salman is engaged in this file, as the most pressing strategic and military level in the kingdom today, and met, weeks ago, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for this purpose.

Earlier on Monday, Omani Energy Minister Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy confirmed Muscat’s quest for a Gulf dialogue with Iran.

On Sunday, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash called on Iran to sit at the negotiating table with world powers and Gulf states to reach a new agreement that would reduce rising tensions in the region.

E.M