Tehran hails Oman's role in hosting Iran-US talks

MUSCAT: Dr Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, affirmed the depth of the bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran, which are based on historical foundations and close ties between the two friendly countries, and are progressing very effectively between them to achieve common interests.
In an exclusive interview with Oman TV, he said that his meeting in Muscat with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik confirms the existence of a clear vision for advancing bilateral relations. The meeting also addressed the current state of relations between the two friendly countries at the regional and international levels.
He noted his meetings with several Omani officials to discuss a number of shared issues and existing interests, from both sides' perspectives, in line with the interests of the region.
Dr Ali Larijani emphasised the importance of Oman's role in creating a suitable environment for dialogue between Iran and the United States, describing it as 'extremely positive' given Oman's keen understanding of regional interests, its familiarity with the course of previous negotiations, and its advanced vision, which qualifies it to play a constructive and effective role.
Regarding the Iranian-American negotiations hosted by Muscat, which are receiving widespread international attention, he said that the negotiating process in the previous stage witnessed gradual development, stressing that his country looks forward to engaging in negotiations whenever they are realistic, and that his country’s position in the first round was positive, considering that the next stage may hold opportunities for strategic de-escalation, or at least political repositioning, according to what the results of the dialogue will lead to.
Regarding whether these negotiations reflect a real shift in managing the issues between Tehran and Washington or fall within the framework of crisis management only, he said that there are many claims put forward by the American side, noting that if the negotiations on the nuclear file are successful, they can be expanded later to include other areas, but it is not possible at the present time to confirm the possibility of moving on to discussing other issues.

Dr Ali Larijani stressed that Iran has believed from the beginning that war is not a solution to the disputes between the two countries, and that regional conflicts between Iran and the United States should be resolved through dialogue and talks, considering that relying on the language of force was a mistake on the part of some parties, and contributed to complicating the negotiation paths and creating many problems in the dialogue.
Regarding the possibility that the ongoing negotiations will determine the shape of the relationship between Tehran and Washington, he stressed that it is still too early to talk about that, explaining that what has happened so far is only one stage, and that the developments of the next stage will determine the general direction.
He pointed out that the success of the negotiations depends on the availability of a genuine political will on both sides, stressing that commitment to a reasonable and realistic framework will make these negotiations successful, while putting forward additional demands will lead to their failure, and that if the goal of the American side is to prevent Iran from moving towards nuclear weapons, then resolving this issue is possible, but introducing other issues will complicate the process.
Regarding the timeframe, he said that there is no specific timetable for the negotiations, and that his country wants to reach clear solutions without delay, and that the issues raised are solvable and do not require a long time if the necessary seriousness is present.
Regarding the chances of success for these negotiations, Dr Ali Larijani said that he does not wish to delve into describing the political factors themselves, and that if the two parties adhere to the positions they announce, the possibility of reaching a solution remains, while emphasising the pivotal and essential role of the Sultanate of Oman in the course of these negotiations.
Regarding the possibility of separating the course of negotiations from the political and field developments in the region, he stressed that the existing disputes in the region constitute one of the most prominent factors of tension, and that addressing these issues would contribute to restoring stability and peace to the region, and that the escalation of tensions as a result of military interventions leads to complicating the regional scene, while resolving these problems opens the way for development and progress of the countries of the region.
In his assessment of the current US policy towards Iran, he considered that the traditional framework within which Washington operates has become more realistic, and that the United States previously linked the nuclear file with the military and missile files, while the focus is now limited to the nuclear file, which he described as the rational approach, stressing that military issues are not related to the nuclear file, and that finding a solution to this file is a fundamental and important step.
Dr Ali Larijani pointed out that some countries' understanding of the current situation and existing tensions still faces difficulties, but some disagreements can be addressed through dialogue, saying: 'In this context, I consider that Israel has a prominent role in fuelling tensions and creating crises in the region,' noting that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent statements during his visit to the United States regarding the Iranian nuclear file and imposing deadlines on Tehran would create additional problems.
Regarding the most prominent points that still hinder building a sustainable path of trust between Iran and the United States, he pointed out that the American claims about Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons constitute the main obstacle, stressing that Tehran clearly declares that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, and that in return the US can take steps to address some of the outstanding issues.
He pointed out that the countries of the region have reached an advanced level in dealing with their issues, and are seeking to resolve their disputes by peaceful means in order to prevent them from sliding into new confrontations, describing this as a very important development.
Regarding the role that regional and international countries can play in reducing tensions, he affirmed that the region as a whole desires to establish peace and stability and is earnestly striving towards this goal. However, he noted that some countries do not demonstrate a genuine desire to end the existing tensions. He called upon the region's nations to recognise this reality in order to pave the way for reconciliation and achieve the desired calm.
Dr Ali Larijani emphasised that the Sultanate of Oman and the countries of the region possess tremendous potential for advancement. They are rich in resources and diverse in their capabilities, and their populations are capable of integration. He asserted that effectively utilising these resources and strengthening regional cooperation will lead the region towards genuine development and broad progress in the coming phase. - ONA