MARK LANDSER - NYT:

 
Secretary of State John Kerry met with Sultan Qaboos of Oman in Muscat, the capital, in May 2013.Credit

Pool photo by Jim Young 

Mr. Kerry visited Oman in late 2011 and the first half of 2012, spending hours with the sultan discussing the possibility of secret talks with Iran. He also met with Mr. Ismaily — sometimes in London and Rome, other times in Washington. Later, in a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Obama in the Oval Office, Mr. Kerry told him that the only way to test its potential was to meet the Iranians.

Go to link