TEHRAN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made an unannounced visit to Oman last weekend, the Financial Tribune daily reported Tuesday.

Zarif met his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in Muscat on Sunday to discuss bilateral and regional issues, the report said.

No further details were available on the meeting, but the trip was in line with the two-way political contacts within the framework of regular consultations between Iran and Oman, it said.

Zarif's visit to Muscat came ahead of President Hassan Rouhani's trip to Switzerland on Monday, which focuses on Iran's nuclear deal and the U.S. withdrawal from it.

Iran and the European countries are in talks to preserve the nuclear deal despite the U.S. pullout.

Iran and Oman have enjoyed cordial diplomatic and economic ties for decades. The Arab country is usually known as a mediator, particularly between Iran and the United States.

Sultan Qaboos of Oman played an important role in facilitating the early stages of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers, which led to the landmark nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2015.