Tehran Wants Indirect Talks With Washington, Warns Regional Countries Over Attacks Against It

Though Iran has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for direct talks, it needs to proceed oblique negotiations via Oman, a longtime channel for messages between the rival states, stated the official, who spoke to Reuters on situation of anonymity.

“Oblique talks supply an opportunity to guage Washington’s seriousness a couple of political answer with Iran,” said the official.

Though that path might be “rocky”, such talks may start quickly if U.S. messaging supported it, the official added.

Iran has issued notices to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain that any assist for a U.S. assault on Iran, together with using their air area or territory by U.S. navy throughout an assault, can be thought-about an act of hostility, the official continued.

Such an act “may have extreme penalties for them”, the official stated, including that Supreme Chief Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei had positioned Iran’s armed forces on excessive alert.

Spokespeople for the governments of Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Turkey’s Overseas Ministry introduced it was not conscious of a warning however that such messages might be conveyed by different channels.

Iran’s ally Russia stated on Thursday that U.S. threats of navy strikes in opposition to the Islamic Republic have been unacceptable and on Friday referred to as for restraint.

Iran is making an attempt to achieve extra assist from Russia, however is sceptical about Moscow’s dedication to its ally, said a second Iranian official.

This “relies on the dynamics” of the connection between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the official added.

Trump has said he would like a deal over Iran’s nuclear programme to a navy confrontation.

The primary Iranian official stated a primary spherical of oblique talks may contain Omani mediators shuttling between the Iranian and U.S. delegations. Ayatollah Khamenei has authorised Overseas Minister Abbas Araqchi or his deputy, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, to attend any talks in Muscat.

Nonetheless, the official believed there was a window of round two months to agree a deal, citing worries that Iran’s long-time foe Israel would possibly launch its personal assault if talks took longer, and that it may set off a so-called “snap again” of all worldwide sanctions on Iran to forestall the nation from buying a nuclear weapon.

Iran has lengthy denied desirous to develop a nuclear weapon.