President Donald Trump is asking Oman's sultan to help counter Iran's destabilizing activities in the Middle East, the White House said on Tuesday.

The White House said the president spoke by phone with Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said Tuesday.

The brief readout says Trump stressed the need for "close bilateral cooperation."

The leaders also discussed "ways to resolve regional conflicts" and counter "Iran's destabilizing activities."

The Arab Gulf sultanate has played a key role as a mediator in the Middle East, from hosting secret talks between Washington and Tehran over the Islamic Republic's contested nuclear program to seeking a negotiated resolution to the ongoing fighting in Yemen.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.