TEHRAN – Esmail Ahmadi Moqaddam, the head of Iran’s National Defense University, has underlined the need for strengthening relations between Iran and Oman. 

Moqaddam made the remarks during a trip to neighboring Oman at the head of a high-level military delegation. In the Arab country, he met with Major General Hamid Ahmed Said Sakroun, the head of Oman’s Strategic and Defense Studies Academy.

Moqaddam highlighted the historical, religious and cultural commonalities between the two nations and expressed his readiness to expand these relations in the fields of science, research and the exchange of professors and students between the two countries.

The university chancellor also visited the Faculty of National Defense, the Faculty of Command and Headquarters, and the Oman Military Museum.

Also, Moqaddam met with Ali Najafi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Oman, at the embassy and discussed ways to strengthen and develop relations between Tehran and Muscat.

Ambassador Najafi emphasized the need to expand the scope of cooperation in various fields with the friendly and brotherly country of Oman, according to IRNA. 

The visit by Moqaddam to Oman comes amid unprecedented tensions emanating from Israel’s brutal genocide in the Gaza Strip. The tensions prompted intensive contacts between Tehran and Muscat. 

On Saturday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had a phone conversation with Sultan Haitham bin Tarek to discuss the situation in Palestine. 

In this call, Raisi stated that the world’s Muslim nations and free nations must take “decisive and immediate” measures to halt Israel’s “killing machine” as the conflict in Gaza continues to cost more civilian lives.

Raisi highlighted that the unrestricted backing by Western nations, notably the United States, for Israel’s misdeeds has led to greater complications and worsening of the situation

For his part, the Sultan of Oman lauded Iran’s support for the downtrodden Palestinian people and said that Israel shouldn’t be allowed to forcibly evict them from their homes once more.