Cheney holds talks with Omani officials - TV

DUBAI, Feb 26 (Reuters) US Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Oman and held talks with officials from the US-allied Gulf Arab state, Al Jazeera television reported.

Al Jazeera gave no further details about the visit but an Omani newspaper said yesterday that Cheney was expected to discuss Iraq and Iran's nuclear programme.

A US embassy official in the capital Muscat declined to comment on the visit. Cheney has been in Asia and this stopover had not been previously announced as part of his itinerary.

There was no immediate comment from the White House.

Cheney said yesterday Iran's atomic ambitions must be curbed, adding that ''all options'' were on the table.

Gulf Arab states, including Oman, the northern tip of which faces Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, have expressed concern over Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran describes as peaceful although the West suspects it is trying to make nuclear weapons.

The United States has stepped up pressure on Iran by slapping sanctions on two big Iranian banks and three firms.

It has also deployed a second aircraft carbier to the Gulf with supporting warships, a move widely seen as a warning to Iran.

Washington insists it wants a diplomatic solution and does not want war, but has not ruled out force if necessary.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today said Iran had no brake or reverse gear in its nuclear programme. Tehran says Washington is in no position to attack when its troops are bogged down in Iraq but says it is ready in any case.

Cheney arrived in Muscat yesterday after a visit to Asia-Pacific Iraq war allies Japan and Australia. His plane underwent minor repairs during a stopover in Singapore earlier today.

REUTERS SBA RN0400