Iranian President Sheikh Hasan Rouhani held talks in Muscat with Sultan Qaboos Wednesday as he kicked off a two-day Oman visit aimed at boosting economic ties between the longtime allies.

Iranian President Sheikh Hasan Rouhani held talks in Muscat with Sultan Qaboos  Wednesday as he kicked off a two-day Oman visit aimed at boosting economic ties between the longtime allies.

Rouhani went into the meeting with Sultan Qaboos soon after he arrived in Muscat accompanied by a delegation of Iranian leaders.

The two leaders discussed "bilateral cooperation" and "building good relations" between their countries, Oman's official ONA news agency reported.

A government official said Rouhani would also hold talks during his visit with senior Omani officials, the sultanate's top cleric Ahmad al-Khalil and members of the business community.

Before departing Tehran for Muscat earlier Wednesday, Rouhani hailed the "good relations" that exist between Tehran and Muscat.

"During this trip, we want to implement contracts (signed) in the field of trade and economy, especially those linked to oil and gas," as well as in finance, banking, and culture, he told reporters at the airport, as cited by IRNA, Iran's official news agency.

Tehran's ambassador in Muscat, Ali Akbar Sibeveih, said ahead of the visit that Oman and Iran are seeking to expand trade, which reached $1 billion last year, as well as bilateral investments which they expect will top $10 billion by the end of this year.