The Middle East Is Getting More And More Reckless, Iran-US Discussions Facilitated By Oman Are Temporarily Suspended

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi/PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said indirect talks between Iran and the United States, facilitated by Oman, were temporarily suspended due to rising tensions in the region.

Speaking during a visit to Oman's capital, Muscat, Araghchi said the negotiations, known as the 'Muscat' process, had been stopped due to special circumstances in the area.

"Oman has always played an important role in overcoming regional problems and actively facilitated dialogue between Iran and the US," Araghchi said as quoted by CNN, Monday, October 14.

However, he stressed that the current regional turmoil makes further negotiations impossible for now.

"We don't see a basis for these negotiations until we can get through the current crisis," he added.

AragCHI left the door open for the process to resume at the next stage.

When asked if any messages were delivered to the US during his visit, Araghchi said there were no messages sent to other countries during this trip.

Araghchi said US and European countries, as well as regional actors, must recognize Iran's stance on the latest developments.

"Our position is very clear," said Araghchi.

"We don't want war or conflict, but we are completely ready to deal with it. We believe that diplomacy should be used to prevent escalation," he continued.

Negotiations have stalled amid rising tensions since Iran launched a series of missiles into Israel on October 1, an act of retaliation following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasollah and commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Beirut. Israel then targeted Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an attack on Tehran two months earlier.