Omans new leader Sultan Haitham bin Tariq received in Muscat on Friday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Sultan Haitham discussed the "close ties" between Oman and the United States with Pompeo, the official Oman News Agency said. The meeting was attended by foreign affairs minister, Yusuf bin Alawi Abdullah, who greeted Pompeo upon his arrival in the capital on Friday. Pompeo is the first high-ranking US official to meet the leader since he succeeded previous Sultan Qaboos, who died on January 10 at the age of 79. Pompeos visit to Oman lasted only several hours long, before departing back to the US. He had arrived in the sultanate from Saudi Arabia, where he paid a two-day official visit.