Omani FM's Visit Not Aimed at Mediation between Iran, US

"The Omani foreign minister met and negotiated with (his Iranian counterpart) Zarif in his visit to Tehran a few days ago and today, the (Iranian) foreign minister briefed the cabinet about the meeting," Vaezi told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday.

He noted that Zarif and Bin Alawi discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, adding, "The issue of mediation has not been raised in their talks at all."

Asked about Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's remarks that his country decides to send two delegations to Iran and the US to deescalate tensions between the two sides, Vaezi said that the delegation has not yet traveled to Tehran.

"Tehran and Baghdad enjoy highly close relations, and we never tell them to avoid sending (delegations). They will certainly come (here) and we will listen to their remarks, but the important point is the decision that we make about their proposal."

Abdul Mahdi announced on Tuesday that his country had increased efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the US by sending delegations to the two countries given Washington's heightened military buildup in the region.

“Iraq has high-level contacts (with both parties), and its vision is very close to that of the European Union, which seeks to settle the crisis in the region,” Abdul Mahdi said at a weekly press briefing in the capital Baghdad on Tuesday.

“The US and Iranian officials have assured us that they do not want to go to war,” he underlined.

"Iraq is in the phase of relaying messages between Washington and Tehran. It tries to defuse crisis between the two sides. It is our responsibility to defend Iraq and its people, and ensure security in the face of the threat of war," Abdul Mahdi said.

He added that there is no group in Iraq that is willing to push for a war between Tehran and Washington.

In relevant remarks on Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that Tehran will not come to the negotiating table (with Washington) under the current situation, adding that his country, however, has always championed dialogue and engagement.

“I, myself, am in favor of negotiation and diplomacy, but do not approve of it under the current circumstances at all,” president Rouhani said in a meeting with a number of religious scholars and personalities in the capital city of Tehran.

Rouhani reminded how the country had rejected a proposal for talks made by five world leaders during his visit to the United Nations’ headquarters in New York last year. Also last year, Tehran likewise ignored eight separate offers for negotiation with Washington, which had been forwarded by the US State Department, he added.

“The circumstances of the day are not (such that would be appropriate) for negotiation at all. Today, our situation is (one characterized by) resistance and steadfastness,” the chief executive stated.

There Iranian people and authorities see perfectly eye to eye on the premise of resistance against the United States and its sanctions, Rouhani said.

He, however, asserted, “I do not perceive the road ahead to be a dead-end one at all,” adding that in order for the country to surmount the obstacles in its way “all have to realize that we are in conditions of economic war, and should help one another out”.

The president hailed that Iran was never the one to start matters in its standing conflict with the US.

As the US administration seeks to intimidate Tehran into talks, Iranians have remained adamant, stressing that no war is in the offing although the country's military forces are fully ready to provide a crushing response in defense if they ever come under strike.

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