Iran's foreign minister has warned Arab neighbors not to put themselves in a "dangerous position" by getting too close to the United States in the escalating conflict over Tehran's nuclear activities.
Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, which transports a third of its oil to the West, if a ban on oil exports cripples Iran's vital energy sector, fueling fears of war in the wider Middle East, Reuters reported. .
It is expected that at the meeting scheduled for Monday, the heads of EU diplomacy will agree on the introduction of an oil embargo on Iran and the freezing of the funds of the country's central bank, said French Foreign Minister Alain Gippe, confirming the allegations leaked from diplomatic sources.
"We want peace in the region"
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, angered Iran last Sunday when it said it could quickly increase oil supplies to key customers if needed.
"We want peace in the region. However, some countries in the region are turning to other countries that are 12.000 miles away," said Iran's head of diplomacy, Ali Akbar Salehi.
"We want peace in the region. However, some countries in the region are turning to other countries that are 12.000 miles away."
The remark apparently referred to their Arab neighbors' alliance with Washington, which has a large naval fleet in the Persian Gulf and claims to keep that sea route open.
"I call on all the countries of the region - please do not allow yourself to be drawn into a dangerous position," said Salehi.
"They are showing their muscles outside, and they are asking us to talk"
He added that the US should make it clear that it is open to negotiations with Tehran without conditions.
"Outside they are showing their muscles, but behind closed doors they are asking us to sit down and talk," he said, referring to a letter whose contents have not been published, which President Barack Obama sent to Iranian officials regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US, as well as other Western countries, claim that they are ready for talks with Iran, but only on the condition that Tehran agrees to negotiate a halt to the uranium enrichment process. Western officials say Iran is asking for talks "without conditions" as its tactic to delay putting its nuclear program on the agenda.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao defended his country's intensive trade with Iran against pressure from Western sanctions in comments published yesterday. However, he said, Beijing is fiercely opposed to Iran's attempts to acquire nuclear weapons.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the military option hypothetically mentioned by Israel and the US would cause a terrible war throughout the Middle East. Russia also opposes the new sanctions, judging them to be counterproductive.
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