Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time on Tuesday, during a landmark visit to Moscow that saw Oman and Russia sign a series of agreements on transportation, counterterrorism financing and other areas. The trip comes as Oman plays a key role in mediating nuclear talks between the United States and Iran.

Sultan Haitham, who ascended to the throne in 2020, arrived in Moscow on Monday evening and received a welcome ceremony on Tuesday. His delegation included Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, head of the Oman Investment Authority Abdulsalam Al Murshidi and others, according to the official Oman News Agency.

The sultan and Putin previously spoke on the phone in 2023 in the first high-level bilateral contact between Russia and Oman, the official Russian news agency Tass reported. Oman established relations with the Soviet Union in 1985.

Putin expressed interest in enhancing cooperation in the energy, trade and agriculture sectors with Oman during the meeting, adding that Russia plans to host a summit with Arab states in 2025. For his part, Sultan Haitham said he encouraged Russian businesses to open offices in Oman during a meeting with businesspeople in Moscow earlier the same day, according to a Kremlin readout.