Tehran rejects claims of trying to negotiate with US, Saudi Arabia

Tabnak – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s recent proposal to the US on the exchange of prisoners has sparked speculations that Iran might be trying to initiate negotiations with Washington. Dismissing such speculations, the Islamic Republic continues to criticize the US and its allies for colluding against Iran’s interests.

In this vein, Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed as “baseless” the reports about Tehran’s alleged request for negotiations with the US or the beginning of political talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi rejected the “baseless and wrong” reports by foreign media that Iran seeks to hold talks with the US and Saudi Arabia.

“There is no request for talks with the US, and in regard to Saudi Arabia, there are no negotiations on any issue except for the subjects relating to Hajj, which has been separated from the political issues and relations between the two countries by an agreement,” the spokesman added.

Mousavi stressed that Iran’s policy towards the neighbors rests upon mutual respect, good neighborliness and peaceful co-existence with cooperation and dialogue.

“From the viewpoint of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia is an important country in our region which has taken an incorrect path with an unconstructive approach in recent years, and this (Saudi policy) has caused many problems and crises in the region,” he added.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says hawkish politicians within the American government and their allies in the Middle East want to escalate tensions with Tehran.

In an interview with Fox News set to air on Sunday, Zarif accused US National Security Adviser John Bolton as well as Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE of “dragging the US into a conflict” with Iran.

Asked if the group is trying to exercise a government change in Iran, Zarif replied, “At least, at least."

“They have all shown an interest in dragging the United States into a conflict. I do not believe that President Trump wants to do that, I believe President Trump ran on a campaign promise of not bringing the United States into another war.

"But I believe President Trump’s intention to put pressure, the policy of maximum pressure on Iran in order to bring Iran to its knees so that we would succumb to pressure, is doomed to failure," he added.

On the other hand, Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh has accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of exaggerating their ability to replace the country's oil in the wake of a renewed push by Washington to zero Tehran's exports by implementing "brutal" economic sanctions.

“I believe they are overstating their oil capacities,” Zangeneh said on Friday, after Saudi and Emirati officials pledged to make up for any potential oil supply shortages that may result in the absence of Iranian oil in the global market.

The ambitious pledges by Washington's staunch Arab allies came shortly after the White House announced that it would no longer renew waivers that allowed Tehran’s eight largest customers purchase Iranian oil. The exemptions will expire on May 1.