Oman trying to reduce US-Iran tensions: foreign ministry
Oman is trying “with other parties” to reduce tensions
between the United States and Iran, the Omani Foreign Ministry tweeted on
Friday.
The tweet cited Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the
sultanate’s minister responsible for foreign affairs, who met on Monday in
Tehran with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
“There is a danger that a war breaks out, hurting the whole
world... Both parties, the American and the Iranian, are aware of the danger,”
the tweet cited the Omani minister as saying in an interview with an Arabic
publication.
Oman maintains friendly ties with both the United States and
Iran and has previously been an important go-between for the two countries,
which severed diplomatic relations in 1980. Washington and Tehran are in a
protracted stand-off over Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Tensions have been building in the last few weeks.
Washington has sent more military forces to the Middle East in a show of force
against what US officials say are Iranian threats to its troops and interests
in the region since the United States reinstated a range of economic sanctions
against Iran.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iran will not
surrender to US pressure and will not abandon its goals, even if it is bombed.
Another country trying to avert a confrontation in the
region is Iraq. Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi said on Tuesday that Baghdad
would send delegations to Washington and Tehran to help reduce tensions.