Iran Is Not In For Any Direct Talk With US, But May Be For Indirect Negotiations
Iran pushes back US’ demand that Tehran be ready for a direct negotiation over its nuclear programme or be bombed. The country also warned its neighbours which hosts US bases and said that they could be in the firing line if involved, Reuters quoted a senior Iranian official as saying.
However, while Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s call for direct talk, the country reportedly wants to continue indirect negotiations through Oman, a longtime channel for messages between the rival states as said by the official. He said that though such negotiations could be “rocky”, it could begin soon if US supported it.
“Indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington’s seriousness about a political solution with Iran,” said the official.
Tehran issued notices to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain that any support for a U.S. attack on Iran, including the use of their air space or territory by US military during an attack, would be considered an act of hostility, the official told the news agency. While warning that such actions will have consequences, the official added that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had placed Iran’s armed forces on high alert.
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Trump’s remark on knocking Iran’s door with military actions have derailed the already fragile nerves across the region, which came from Israel’s blatant violation of ceasefire in Gaza, and Lebanon. US, UK bombing in Yemen, leadership change in Syria, and an Israeli-Iranian exchange of fire also added to the situation.
Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain did not immediately respond to Iran’s warning. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of a warning but that such messages could be conveyed by other channels.
Iran also said that Kuwait reassured that it would not accept any aggressive action being directed at other countries from its soil. Russia, Iran’s ally, said that US threats of military strikes against the Islamic Republic were unacceptable and called for restrain.
Donald Trump said he would prefer a deal over Iran’s nuclear programme to a military confrontation. Last month, he said he wrote to Iran’s Supreme Leader suggesting to talk.
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Speaking of the indirect negotiation, the official told Reuters that a first round of indirect talks could involve Omani mediators shuttling between the Iranian and US delegations. Khamenei has authorised Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi or his deputy, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, to attend any talks in Muscat.
As per the report, the official believe that there is going to be a a window of around two months to agree a deal, citing worries that Iran’s long-time foe Israel might launch its own attack if talks took longer. Which in turn could trigger a retaliation of all international sanctions on Iran to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Tehran has long denied desire to develop a nuclear weapon. However, the country has reportedly been accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, warned the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
West says that there is no need to enrich uranium to such a high level under any civilian program and that no other country has done so without producing nuclear bombs.
