Oman's Sultan Qabus, heading a high- ranking delegation, arrived in Iran's capital of Tehran on Sunday for talks of mutual interest, official IRNA news agency reported.

During his stay in Tehran, Sultan Qabus will meet senior officials of the country, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.

The Omani Sultan is the first head of state to meet the new Iranian president.

Local media reported recently that the Omani Sultan might carry a message from the United States to the Iranian officials, as President Rouhani has shown a willingness for the direct talks with the United Sates over a number of issues including the country's controversial nuclear program.

Oman has played the role as an intermediary between Iran and other countries in a number of instances. It brokered negotiations between the United States and the Islamic republic over the three American hikers detained by Iran in 2010. Also, secret cease-fire talks between Iran and Iraq were held in Muscat during the war in 1980-1988.

Oman and Iran share close diplomatic, economic, and military ties as well as cooperation on energy fronts.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh will hold talks with his Omani counterpart Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy about Iran's natural gas exports to Oman, developing joint offshore gas fields and expanding bilateral oil and gas trade, Tehran Times newspaper reported.