Tehran, Jan 31, SPA -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Monday that presence of foreigners in the Gulf region has not only had no benefit but on the contrary has endangered the interests of regional nations. Ahmadinejad further told Omani Foreign Minister Yussef Bin Alawi that Iran and the Gulf states can assist one another to turn the region into the `Zone of Peace and Friendship' without presence of foreign powers. He said foreigners' presence and intervention in the region is only based on certain differences and disputes created and provoked by them among the regional neighboring states. The president said the Gulf states enjoy "exceptional" political, economic and natural conditions' and added, "We should through solidarity, and by removing barriers secure the interests of the nations of the region."." Alawi, conveying the warm greetings of Omani Sultan Qaboos to President Ahmadinejad, said expansion of relations with Tehran is of special significance for Oman. Oman is interested in expansion of bilateral relations with Iran, especially in the oil and gas sector, he said. --SPA 12 58 Local Time 09 58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/322513