Iranian foreign minister visits Oman as part of Gulf tour to win support

Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki held talks Wednesday with Omani officials as part of a tour of Gulf countries designed to win support for his government's standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

"I came carrying a message of affection, peace and love from the new Iranian leadership to the leadership and people of Oman," Mottaki told The Associated Press after discussions with Oman's deputy prime minister Fahd bin Mahmoud.

Mottaki described the talks as constructive and said they included Iran's nuclear program, Iraq and security in the Gulf.

Oman, which has long enjoyed strong ties with Iran, has said it is important that nuclear talks resume between Iran and its three European negotiating partners, Britain, France and Germany. The negotiations broke off in August after Iran resumed conversion of uranium into gas.

Mottaki later flew to the United Arab Emirates. He was also to visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria on the tour that began in Kuwait and Bahrain. AM