Oman aims to expand shipping and trade links with Iran and get ahead of rivals after the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran, leading port officials involved say. Reports cited by ship insurers pointed to a ban on all Iranian flagged ships calling at Saudi ports and neighbouring ally Bahrain. While Oman maintained warm ties with Tehran. Andre Toet, chief executive of Sohar's port and freezone said Sohar was targeting more trade with major Iranian dry bulk and container line IRISL and national tanker operator NITC. An IRISL ship made its first call to Sohar recently. Separately, a direct service between Iran's major cargo port of Bandar Abbas and Sohar had opened up. Toet said the port was looking at links with other Iranian terminals such as Chabahar. (Reuters)