FNA - The Iranian embassy in Baghdad dismissed media reports claiming that Foreign Minister Zarif has demanded Iraq, during his recent visit, to mediate for talks between Tehran and Washington.
"The recent positions of the Iraqi government and nation about Iran proved much good will by them, specially after the US imposed a cruel (economic) siege against the Iranian nation," Iran's Deputy Ambassador to Baghdad Mousa Tabatabayee was quoted by Iraq's al-Masalleh news website as saying on Wednesday.
Meantime, he underlined that Zarif has not demanded the Iraqi officials, during his recent visit to Baghdad, to mediate for opening a window for talks between Tehran and Washington.
In relevant remarks on Monday, Zarif, had also highlighted that there are enormous disparities between what the White House is saying and what it does in dealing with Tehran.
Zarif said, in a tweet on Monday, that Trump has to prove in action whether he seeks to fall into line with the league of anti-Iran domestic and regional officials.
The Iranian top diplomat said, B-Team's Economic Terrorism is hurting the Iranian people and causing tension in the region. Actionsnot wordswill show whether or not that's Donald Trump's intent.
According to Zarifs earlier tweets in April, the B-Team is made up by US National Security Advisor John Bolton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The top diplomat reminded that the markedly hostile foursome have themselves admitted to targeting the Iranian people with economic terrorism.
The Iranian diplomatic chief separately reiterated absence of whatever intention on the part of Tehran to pursue nuclear arms, reminding how Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the countrys highest authority, has categorically prohibited the weapons.
Similarly, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi also reiterated the comments by his boss in response to the US president's softened tone for talks, and stressed that Tehran was waiting for Washington's change of behavior in action and not just in words.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran pays no specific attention to words and rhetoric. Change of approach and behavior is important to us. We will decide based on what we see and their reflections on us and our region," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi told reporters in a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.
He underlined contradictions in Trump and the US ruling system's words, and said, "Change of approach and finally, change of behavior is important to us."
Mousavi further rejected media speculations that certain countries are mediating between Iran and the US, and stressed that Tehran is in no talks with Washington and sees no perspective for such negotiations.
"We do not have any negotiations with the US. We were in talks (i.e. in line with implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal). The US was in the talks but they ended it through their illegal withdrawal. We do not see any perspective for negotiations," the spokesman said.
Asked by reporters about media speculations about mediation of certain countries for talks between Iran and the US, he said, "The tensions between Iran and the US are rooted in (the US) economic terrorism and sanctions. Different countries with different incentives and God willing, good will, monitor the developments. We are not now in the mediation stage."
"No special message was given to Iran by the friendly states' officials who visited Iran and we did not have a message either and these visits were only aimed at an expression of views," Mousavi stressed.