Iran-US Talks in Turkey to Avoid Conflict a Priority

Iranian and US flags. (Wikimedia Commons/Sonia Sevilla/Makaristos)

JAKARTA - The priority of talks between Iran and the United States this week in Istanbul, Turkey is to avoid conflict and ease tensions between the two sides, a regional official told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that a number of regional powers were also invited.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some of the countries invited to the talks at the foreign minister level included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The official said the format of the meeting was still unclear, but a "major meeting" would be held on Friday and it was important to start a dialogue between the parties to avoid further escalation, Al Arabiya reported from Reuters (3/2)

An Iranian diplomatic source told Reuters later on Tuesday that Iran was "neither optimistic nor pessimistic" about talks in Istanbul with the US, adding that Tehran would not negotiate on its defensive capabilities.

Iran considers its ballistic missile program an essential component of its defensive capabilities.

Meanwhile, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday there was regional collaboration and ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring de-escalation related to Iran.

Previously, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Saturday last week met with Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, in Tehran and reviewed efforts to ease tensions in the region.