GENEVA — Iran is prepared for dialogue if Saudi Arabia is also ready, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency.
Tensions have spiked between Iran and Saudi Arabia since Riyadh accused the Islamic Republic of carrying out attacks that damaged six oil tankers in the Gulf, an allegation Tehran has denied.
"If Saudi Arabia is ready for dialogue, we are always ready for dialogue with our neighbors," Zarif said. "We have never closed the door to dialogue with our neighbors and we will never close the door to dialogue with our neighbors."
Zarif also said Iran could hold similar talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a close ally of the Saudis, adding, "If they change their policies it is a very good opportunity for dialogue".
Iran had maritime security talks on Tuesday with the UAE in an apparent bid to calm tensions in the Gulf, though a Gulf Arab official described the discussions as routine and technical.
In another development, Iran said it is set to further cut its commitments to its international nuclear deal unless its European partners move to protect it from US sanctions by ensuring it can sell oil and receive income, its foreign minister told state television on Wednesday.
"Under current circumstances and if no action is taken (by the Europeans) we will take the next step (in cutting commitments)," Zarif said, adding that its European partners should guarantee Iran could sell its oil and collect the revenue.
Iran has said it will reduce its commitment to the nuclear accord in stages and may even withdrew from the pact unless the Europeans find ways to shield its economy from the US sanctions.
Germany meanwhile, showed their 'reluctance' on US plan for naval mission off Iran, while stating that the European naval mission in Strait of Hormuz worth considering.
The German government has not offered any contribution to a US naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz but thinks it is "worth considering" a European mission and is in touch with its partners on that, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
"The government is reticent about the concrete US proposal and so has no made an offer," the spokeswoman told a news conference. "For us, it is important to pursue the avenue of diplomacy ... and to seek talks with Iran to achieve a de-escalation," the spokeswoman added.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government was responding to a US demand made public a day earlier "to help secure" the world's busiest oil shipping lane and "combat Iranian aggression".
At a time of heightened tensions, Berlin fears that this could potentially draw it and other powers into a military confrontation between the United States and the Islamic Republic.
Government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said Germany continued to support diplomatic efforts to ease tensions that have risen sharply since US President Donald Trump last year withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal.
Berlin was seeking an emphasis on "diplomacy and de-escalation" and to save the nuclear deal, Demmer said, stressing that "participation in a US-led mission could complicate this issue, even as of course we share the goal of freedom of navigation".
Britain last week ordered its navy to escort UK-flagged ships in the strait in response to Iranian soldiers seizing a tanker in the flashpoint entrance to the Gulf. Germany remained "in close coordination with France and Britain" on questions of maritime security, Demmer said, adding that Berlin believed the idea of a European naval mission was "worth considering". — Reuters
