Omans Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah stressed on Monday that the circumstances in the Gulf region necessitate dialogue and mutual understandings between all regional countries. “The situation in the region requires dialogue and understanding. Holding a general and comprehensive conference with the participation of all relevant countries can be helpful in that regard,” he said from Tehran where he met with Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif and with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani. “Achieving sustainable security in the region needs reaching a consensus and understanding among all the neighboring countries in order to eliminate misunderstandings,” the Omani minister stressed after meeting with Shamkhani. Bin Alawi added that tension in the region “will not be in the interest of any of the Gulf countries,” and he called all parties to avoid increasing the tension in all the possible ways. For his part, Zarif said Iran “welcomes and will assist any effort and initiative which are based on goodwill to reduce the tensions in the region,” Fars news agency quoted him as saying. The Iranian FM also emphasized the need to reduce tensions in the region, especially in Yemen. He described Iran’s will to talk with all countries of the region as “serious”, and added that the "Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE) was proposed in line with that goal.” Oman’s news agency said the two sides discussed the bilateral relations between the Sultanate and Iran, as well as the latest developments in the region. They also discussed political files of common concern. The visit of bin Alawi to Tehran comes amid unprecedented tension in the region, where Washington and Gulf capitals accuse Tehran of targeting ships and oil facilities and of threatening the waters near the Hormuz Strait.