Oman ? Defense Secretary Robert Gates met Saturday with this Gulf nation’s supreme leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, marking the second high-level Bush administration visit in as many months to a longtime ally that has friendly relations with Iran.

Vice President Dick Cheney was here in mid-March to meet with Qaboos to discuss Iran and to reaffirm Washington’s appreciation for Oman’s longtime support for fighting terrorism.

Gates made no public remarks in this tightly controlled state, but an aide told reporters accompanying the Pentagon chief that he reaffirmed President Bush’s policy of pursuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the international community’s conflict with Iran over its nuclear program.

Gates also told the Omani ruler of the Bush administration’s concern about Iran supplying arms to insurgent groups in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, according to the aide, who briefed reporters on the closed-door talks on condition that he not be further identified.