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Other issues on agenda. While the Iran-Egypt detente figured high on the sultan's agenda during the two-day visit, other critical issues also came up for discussion, according to sources and media reports. Oman has earned the reputation of being an effective mediator in regional disputes and conflicts, which was evident in Iran-Saudi tension-easing talks as well as Syria's return to the Arab League and ongoing talks between Riyadh and the Houthi group in Yemen. The Ayatollah, in his meeting with the sultan, appreciated Muscat's role in facilitating Iran and Saudi Arabia talks that resulted in the resumption of diplomacy after seven years of friction. Haitham also likely carried messages from the US to Iran on salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal through dialogue that remains stalled since last August, as previously reported by Anadolu. A report Wednesday in Axios said White House Middle East adviser Brett McGurk traveled to Oman last month for discussions with officials on a possible diplomatic outreach to Iran. The visit was not reported in the US media. Interestingly, one day after the sultan's visit, Iran announced the UN nuclear watchdog had closed the case related to one of the so-called ”undeclared nuclear facilities,” Marivan, which had become one of the sticking points in the nuclear deal talks. ”It's too early to say whether the closure of this case is related to the Sultan of Oman's Iran visit but it's definitely a step forward in overcoming issues that are preventing the revival of the nuclear deal,” said Mohammadi. Importantly, Oman played the role of a key diplomatic bridge between Iran and the US in the run-up to the 2015 nuclear deal that put limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the removal of some sanctions.