Latest news with #Omani
Bahrain This Week
10 hours ago
- Business
- Bahrain This Week
Omani Minister of Housing Conducts Official Visit to Diyar Al Muharraq
Diyar Al Muharraq, the largest urban development company in the Kingdom of Bahrain, had the honor of welcoming His Excellency Dr. Khalfan bin Saeed Al-Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning of the Sultanate of Oman, along with his esteemed delegation, on an official visit aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and exploring best practices within the real estate development sector. His Excellency was received by Mr. Abdulhakeem Yaqoob Al Khayyat, Chairman of Diyar Al Muharraq, and Eng. Ahmed Ali Alammadi, Chief Executive Officer of the company. The visit commenced with a tour of Souq Al Baraha, a traditional-modern marketplace capturing the essence of Bahraini culture while offering a vibrant retail experience that blends heritage, commerce, and community. The delegation also viewed the show villa at Deerat Al Oyoun — one of Diyar Al Muharraq's key residential developments dedicated to Bahraini citizens. The project is characterized by its functional design and integrated environment that caters to the needs of Bahraini families within a stable and urban setting. This was followed by a visit to the show villa at Al Naseem, a high-end residential and retail waterfront development. The delegation was briefed on the project's refined architectural design and high-quality construction standards. The tour also encompassed Al Naseem Social Hub, featuring a range of recreational and social amenities with a focus on providing enriching community interaction and lifestyle. Continuing their tour, the delegation explored the show villa at Al Bareh, one of Diyar's most exclusive residential communities, characterized by serene waterfront views and contemporary design that combines privacy with tranquility. The visit concluded at Marassi Galleria, the flagship retail and leisure destination hosting a curated selection of global brands, dining outlets, and entertainment facilities, positioning it as a major attraction at the heart of Diyar Al Muharraq. This visit served as a significant platform for meaningful dialogue and mutual learning, during which the Chairman of Diyar Al Muharraq presented a comprehensive overview of the city's strategic vision. The presentation highlighted the key principles that shape Diyar as a model of sustainable urban development, and detailed the advanced approaches adopted in planning and executing integrated residential and commercial projects supported by smart infrastructure that enhances the quality of life in an inclusive urban environment. In return, the Omani delegation shared insightful perspectives and pioneering experiences from the Sultanate in the areas of housing and urban planning. These exchanges fostered a rich and productive dialogue focused on sharing best practices and innovative development models, underscoring the shared commitment to collaboration and the pursuit of common development goals. The visit further emphasized the strong ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman. His Excellency also shared details on a number of vital and strategic projects currently underway in Oman that reflect the Sultanate's forward-looking vision for urban development. Among these was the notable Sultan Haitham City project, a leading regional initiative distinguished by its integrated urban planning, modern infrastructure, and sustainable approach.
Observer
10 hours ago
- Business
- Observer
Seaweed farming can support Oman's blue economy, climate goals
MUSCAT: Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is supporting a private-led initiative to explore the feasibility of large-scale seaweed cultivation, aimed at driving the growth of various economic activities related to climate mitigation, sustainable fuels, food security and biodiversity enhancement. Leading the initiative is NTZ Solutions, a local Omani firm focused on delivering innovative solutions in carbon capture, waste management and sustainability — centric human capital development. The company is credited with establishing the GCC's first commercial-scale biochar production facility, currently operational in Barka. With funding support from MedcoEnergi — an Indonesian state-owned energy and natural resources development enterprise — work has commenced on a pilot project designed to assess the overall feasibility and scope of large-scale seaweed cultivation in Oman. Speaking at an energy forum held in Muscat earlier in May, representatives of NTZ Solutions and MedcoEnergi shared insights on seaweed cultivation as an 'innovative nature-based solution' to some of the most urgent global challenges. 'We never imagined seaweed could become a solution to the global crises we're currently facing,' said Johan Despurwantoro, Sustainability and Risk Management Specialist at MedcoEnergi. 'But the question is — why should we return to nature? Because nature-based solutions are not just environmentally relevant but also economically powerful.' According to Despurwantoro, seaweed can contribute to poverty reduction, improve food security and serve as a nutritious food alternative. It can offset carbon emissions by replacing synthetic inputs, enhance ecosystem resilience and directly sequester carbon. Seaweed cultivation, he added, has the potential to unlock an extended value chain — from cultivation and logistics to industrial processing — creating significant employment opportunities at both local and regional levels. At the same time, it can advance Oman's progress on several UN Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Notably, a six-month pilot project was recently launched by the two partners in collaboration with the Ministry to assess the year-round viability of seaweed cultivation in Oman's coastal waters, Despurwantoro stated. A team of experts from NTZ Solutions and MedcoEnergi is currently evaluating the consistency of cultivation and identifying ideal conditions for selected native species. A key member of the team is Kamaruddin Azis, Project Facilitator at the COMMIT Foundation. In an update on the pilot, Kawther al Harrasi, Programme Manager at NTZ Solutions, revealed that the company has secured a pilot site within the Ministry's research facility at Bandar Al Rowdha in Muscat. Of the 12 native seaweed species initially studied, six — Ulva, Codium, Sargassum, Kerva, Hypnea and Gracilaria — were selected for their commercial value. These species are already utilised globally in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agriculture industries, she explained. In the next phase of the project, the focus will shift to scaling up production to support the development of high-value products such as agar, carrageenan, bioplastics and pharmaceutical ingredients. Kawther noted that seaweed can also play a major role in carbon sequestration. In her presentation, she further emphasised the significant knock-on effects of seaweed cultivation for Oman's blue economy growth strategy. Beyond the direct economic benefits, seaweed farming can contribute to job creation, in-country value generation and biodiversity enhancement, she added. HIGHLIGHTS Seaweed cultivation has the potential to unlock an extended value chain from cultivation and logistics to industrial processing
Nahar Net
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Iran says US nuclear deal isn't imminent, enrichment program must continue
by Naharnet Newsdesk 30 May 2025, 16:20 Senior Iranian officials on Thursday dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States, emphasizing that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue. "Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights—including enrichment," Abbas Araghchi, the country's foreign minister, wrote in a post on the X. Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on X that previous U.S. presidents also had "fantasies" destroying Iran's nuclear infrastructure, and warned that Iran has strong defenses and "clear red lines." "Talks serve progress, interests, and dignity, not coercion or surrender," he said. The comments came a day after President Donald Trump said he has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the U.S. administration more time to push for a new nuclear deal with Tehran. The Israeli prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program, if a deal isn't reached, while Iranian officials counter they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium. Other Iranian hard-liners had harsher words for Trump. "What Trump says about a deal with Iran to dismantle nuclear facilities is a combination of 'illusion,' 'bluff,' 'delirium,' and 'confusion,'" Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander in the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard, said in a post on X. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, which have acrimonious ties for nearly a half-century. The U.S. and Iran have held five rounds of talks in Oman and Rome over the past few weeks. Last Friday, the most recent round of talks, Omani mediator and Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said Iran and the United States made " some but not conclusive progress " and that more negotiations are needed. Trump's comments came as the head of the United Nations' atomic watchdog said "the jury is still out" on negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency were in Tehran this week, and Iranian President President Masoud Pezeshkian was in Oman this week for a state visit,
a day ago
- Politics
Iran says a US nuclear deal isn't imminent and that its enrichment program must continue
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Senior Iranian officials on Thursday dismissed speculation about an imminent nuclear deal with the United States, emphasizing that any agreement must fully lift sanctions and allow the country's nuclear program to continue. 'Iran is sincere about a diplomatic solution that will serve the interests of all sides. But getting there requires an agreement that will fully terminate all sanctions and uphold Iran's nuclear rights—including enrichment,' Abbas Araghchi, the country's foreign minister, wrote in a post on the X. Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on X that previous U.S. presidents also had 'fantasies' destroying Iran's nuclear infrastructure, and warned that Iran has strong defenses and 'clear red lines.' 'Talks serve progress, interests, and dignity, not coercion or surrender,' he said. The comments came a day after President Donald Trump said he has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on striking Iran to give the U.S. administration more time to push for a new nuclear deal with Tehran. The Israeli prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program, if a deal isn't reached, while Iranian officials counter they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium. Other Iranian hard-liners had harsher words for Trump. 'What Trump says about a deal with Iran to dismantle nuclear facilities is a combination of 'illusion,' 'bluff,' 'delirium,' and 'confusion,'' Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander in the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard, said in a post on X. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, which have acrimonious ties for nearly a half-century. The U.S. and Iran have held five rounds of talks in Oman and Rome over the past few weeks. Last Friday, the most recent round of talks, Omani mediator and Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said Iran and the United States made ' some but not conclusive progress" and that more negotiations are needed.
Memri
a day ago
- Politics
- Memri
Iranian Majlis National Security And Foreign Policy Committee Member Ahmad Bakhshayish Ardastani: As Part Of Its Mediation Efforts In The U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks, Oman Proposed That We Stop Enriching
In a May 26, 2025 interview with the Didbaniran website, Ahmad Bakhshayish Ardastani, a member of the Iranian Majlis National Security And Foreign Policy Committee, detailed the main points of an Omani mediation offer proposed to Iran on May 23, as part of Oman's mediation efforts in the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, and announced that the quantity of 60%-enriched uranium in Iran was enough for 10 nuclear bombs. The interview was removed from the Didbaniran website shortly after it was posted. The Omani proposal, conveyed to Iran in the fifth round of the talks, covered two areas. First, it proposed that Iran would agree to temporarily suspend its uranium enrichment for six months, after which it would restart it. In the interview, Bakhshayish Ardastan stressed that Iran had not yet agreed to this proposal due to its lack of confidence in the U.S., and added that Iran already had enough uranium enriched to 60% to make several nuclear bombs that "Iran is capable of building." He said: "The 300 kilograms of the uranium stored in Iran is equal to 10 nuclear bombs, and if Israel continues its threats, we will be able to increase the enrichment level even more." The second area in the Omani proposal concerned the idea of a regional nuclear consortium that Iran had agreed to, provided that it retains the right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil and to be paid by Arab countries to share its nuclear achievements with them. Bakhshayish Ardastani clarified that Iran was making any agreement to increased international oversight of its nuclear facilities conditional upon a lifting of all U.S. sanctions on it – something that has been Iran's main aim in the negotiations with the Trump administration. Also in the interview, Bakhshayish Ardastani assessed that President Trump and his advisor Steve Witkoff were working to artificially increase the pressure on Iran as a negotiating tactic, but that they would not give up on achieving an agreement because they need to show that their diplomacy is effective. He stressed that ultimately it would be the Americans who back down from their positions, and that Iran would hold to its red line – the right to enrich uranium on its soil. Bakhshayish Ardastani (Source: May 26, 2025) He also called on Qatar and Oman to come up with interim solutions in order to arrive at an agreement with the Americans. Addressing the Arab states, and hinting that military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran would severely impact them, Bakhshayish Ardastani assessed that President Trump would refrain from going to war and would turn to sanctions, as he had in the past. He warned that if Israel attacks Iran, "the [Israeli] nuclear facility in Dimona on occupied territory will be under threat" and that Israel would be facing Iranian attacks of "hundreds or thousands of missiles." He added that if Iran and the U.S. reach an agreement, it would also serve Israel, which would be able to enjoy more peaceful relations with Iran. The following is a translation of Bakhshayish Ardastani's interview with the Didbaniran website, which as noted was removed from the website shortly after it was posted: Bakhshayish Ardastani: "It Is Unlikely That The Other Side [The U.S.] Will Leave The Negotiating Table... It Needs An Agreement With Iran As An Achievement Of [Trump's] Diplomacy... It Is The Americans Who Will Ultimately Change Their Positions – Not Iran" Bakhshayish Ardastani said in the interview: "Despite the difficulties on the path to reaching an Iran-U.S. agreement, the overall assessment of the negotiation process is positive, and it appears that these negotiations will attain results. The longer the negotiations last, the more likely it is that both sides will arrive at an understanding of their differences, and their continuation is not necessarily a sign that they are progressing badly. "We have had problems with the West on the nuclear issue for some 36 years, of the 47 years since the Islamic Revolution. Of course, during the past few decades, Iran has successfully achieved independence in its nuclear industry thanks to the initiative of its scientists, and the [uranium] enrichment program is the result of the efforts by our elites. Iran has no problem with other countries in the region activating their own nuclear industry, but the thing is that if the Arab countries want a nuclear program, they need to purchase their infrastructure from other countries. Happily, we have succeeded in building all the required infrastructure in our own country. "The longer the negotiations last, the more interested the sides are in reaching a solution, although there is no doubt that significant obstacles lie in the path of a possible agreement. In any event, the [2015 JCPOA] nuclear agreement remains the basis of the current negotiations, and since this agreement allowed Iran to enrich uranium to 3.67%, Iran now wants to advance at least one step beyond that agreement. Trump also wants to show Obama that he can be a stronger diplomat than him, and therefore he does not want to accept continued Iranian uranium enrichment. "So far, both Iran and America have held fast to their red lines, but given that Trump and Witkoff are both [real estate] mediators, and had experience in real estate before they were [political] negotiators, they are deliberately increasing the pressure so that Iran will maybe agree to back down from its red lines. But if Iran does not do so, it is unlikely that the other side [the U.S.] will leave the negotiating table, because it needs an agreement with Iran as an achievement of [Trump's] diplomacy. Therefore, it is the Americans who will ultimately change their positions [i.e. not Iran]." "Both Oman And Qatar Must Help Propose Interim Solutions Acceptable To Both Sides" Bakhshayish Ardastani continued: "Today, both Oman and Qatar must help propose interim solutions acceptable to both sides. One of these solutions is establishing a nuclear consortium of the countries of the region, with Iran at its center. That is, provided that [uranium] enrichment takes place on Iranian soil, international institutions will monitor the activity of this consortium in order to clarify that Iran is not planning to use its enriched uranium for building an atom bomb. "Some Arab countries may think that if an Iran-U.S. war breaks out, it will be over in two or three weeks. But Iran is stronger than this talk. Iran is a country that fought Iraq for eight years, and America recently launched an unceasing attack on the Houthis [that has been continuing] for over a month, but it has not been able to defeat them. Thus, if there is an Iran-America war, the region will definitely have to deal with tensions over time. For this reason, Trump is moving away from war and will ultimately move to 'maximal pressure' in the event that no agreement is reached." "We Are Willing To Put Our [Nuclear] Achievements At The Disposal Of Arab Countries In Exchange For A Reasonable Fee" "During the last [i.e. the fifth] round of talks, Oman set out two proposals for Iran, and according to [Iranian] Foreign Minister [Abbas Araghchi], our country is examining these proposals. One is to establish a nuclear consortium, with the participation of the Arab countries, that can increase monitoring of Iran's activity, in order to prove to America that Iran is not increasing its uranium enrichment above what is noted in a possible future agreement. Iran welcomed this proposal, because we are confident about our domestic nuclear industry and are willing to put our achievements at the disposal of Arab countries in exchange for a reasonable fee. "Oman [also] told us to stop the enrichment for six months and then restart it. Of course, Iran has not yet accepted [this] second Omani proposal, because, based on previous experience, there is a possibility of additional demands from the other side [the U.S.]. For example, the last time we agreed, in the [2015 JCPOA] nuclear agreement, to exceptional oversight of our nuclear facilities, but then the Americans again increased the pressure [on us]. Therefore, Iran is not likely to accept this offer. But the longer the negotiations continue, the more interim solutions will certainly be proposed by the mediators." "The Whole World Knows That Iran Is Capable Of Building Nuclear Weapons, But... We Are Not Advancing Towards Producing An Atom Bomb" "Iran does not fear increased international monitoring of its nuclear activity. The whole world knows that Iran is capable of building nuclear weapons, but since there is no intention to do so in our country, we are not advancing towards producing an atom bomb. We have a home-grown nuclear industry and we have no problem with oversight by international organizations, provided that along with increased oversight, we will obtain the necessary relief – that is, the sanctions imposed on Iran are lifted and our country's frozen funds are restored to us. Thus, we even accept oversight beyond [what is stipulated in] the NPT, as long as America lifts the sanctions and as long as we can enrich [uranium] to a certain level within the country. "The Zionist regime cannot carry out an attack without approval from America, and as long as the negotiations are underway, the U.S. will not give such approval to the Zionist regime. Second, if Israel attacks Iran, the nuclear facility in Dimona, in the occupied territories [Israel], will be under threat. Third, the True Promise I and II operations [Iran's April and October 2024 missile and drone attacks on Israel] proved to Israel that Iran is not like an Arab country – it is a strong country that cannot be attacked without consequences. "At this time, the Houthis can easily fire their missiles without Israel's defenses being able to intercept them, and in recent weeks they have repeatedly targeted Ben Gurion airport. Therefore, Israel knows that it is located in a small area and cannot withstand the hundreds or thousands of Iranian missiles that will be launched into the occupied territories if our nuclear facilities are attacked. Overall, it would be in Israel's interest for Iran and America to reach an agreement and then an understanding, so that Iran and Israel can also enjoy a more peaceful relationship with each other. "Despite the hostile relationship between Iran and the Zionist regime, it is unlikely that this regime will attack Iran. But it is the nature of the Zionists [to carry out] terrorism and sabotage. On the nuclear issue, the assassinations and sabotage carried out by Israel set back Iran's nuclear program, but nevertheless we did not stopped advancing, and now we have reached a point where we already have enough 60%-enriched uranium to produce several atomic bombs. The 300 kilograms of uranium stored in Iran is equivalent to 10 atomic bombs – and if Israel continues its threats, we will be able to increase the enrichment level even more. "Israeli lobbyists' pressure on American politicians is another move that has always been made against Iran, and they are now working to disrupt a possible agreement. In the current negotiations, we saw that by the end of the third round, Trump was willing to accept Iranian uranium enrichment. But then [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's words reached Trump's mouth, and he [Trump] emphasized that there must be zero uranium enrichment. "Of course, in the end, it is America that will back down from its demands, and Iran will not abandon its red lines."[1]
