No direct talks between Iran, US in Oman: Velayati

A top Iranian official has categorically denied reports about the occurrence of direct talks between Iran and the United States in Oman, saying Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has not allowed anyone to hold negotiations with the US.

“I have held no talks with the Americans neither in Oman nor any other country,” Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution told Mehr news agency on Saturday.

This rumor is basically nothing but a lie, he added, reiterating that no talks have been held so far with the US on a legal basis and with the Leader’s permission.

The Iranian official emphasized that the US should “definitely make a revision in its policies” and said, “The nuclear issue is our strategic issue. The Islamic Republic of Iran will never give up its right to peaceful nuclear energy.”

Velayati added that there is consensus on Iran’s nuclear energy program “which is a national issue” and warned that if the US and its allies seek to monopolize nuclear energy, they will use it as a tool to exploit Third World countries.

He noted that US policies in the region have reached an impasse and expressed confidence that Washington would not repeat its experience of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in Iran.

“Today, the US is weaker than the US at a time when it attacked Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran is currently far stronger than Iraq and Afghanistan,” the senior Iranian official pointed out.

He said that the US suffered defeats in wars on Iraq and Afghanistan with significant human and financial loss, adding American officials would not think of an attack on Iran if they were wise.

The US and Israel have been spearheading a campaign against Iran, accusing Tehran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. The US and its European allies have also imposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic over the unfounded allegation.

Iran has strongly refuted the accusation and argues that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.