Kerry, headed to India, sees Oman's ailing ruler in Germany

MUNICH (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stopped briefly in Germany on Saturday to meet with the ailing ruler of Oman, the Mideast country that's served an important intermediary role in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

Kerry, headed to India for an international conference, met for about 90 minutes with Sultan Qaboos bin Said, 74, who has been receiving medical treatment in Germany since November.

After the 90-minute meeting, Kerry tweeted that he was "grateful for strong friendship" with the sultan.

U.S. officials said the meeting probably would cover several topics, including the Iran talks that are set to resume next week in Switzerland.

Oman hosted several secret meetings between U.S. and Iranian officials in the months leading up to an interim nuclear deal in November 2013.