The foreign ministers of Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman will meet in Norway this week at an annual peace forum, the Norwegian government announced on Tuesday.
The ministers, including Iran's foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi, will take part on Wednesday and Thursday in the Oslo Forum, an annual gathering dedicated to peace issues.
The meeting will be held behind closed doors in Lorenskog some 15 kilometres (nine miles) outside the Norwegian capital.
In addition to the Iranian foreign minister, Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egypt's Badr Abdelatty and Oman's Badr Albusaidi will also be in attendance.
"The forum is taking place at a time characterised by several large wars and conflicts, increased polarisation, new alliances, and rivalries between big powers," the Norwegian foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Participants will, among other things, discuss ceasefires, the use of unofficial channels of communication, peace efforts and conflict resolution in a world characterised by an ever evolving political dynamic," it said.
A new meeting between Iran and the United States on Tehran's nuclear programme is expected this week, according to the two countries.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Tuesday that a new round of talks was planned for Sunday in the Omani capital Muscat.
The news site Axios meanwhile reported that the talks could also take place on Friday in Oslo, quoting a US official speaking under cover of anonymity.
Norway has yet to comment on that report.
According to the Norwegian foreign ministry, the Oslo Forum will also gather other "high level" participants, representing Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, amongst others.
With AFP
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