Top Iranian official: No direct talks between Iran, U.S. in Oman

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has categorically denied reports about the occurrence of direct talks between Iran and the United States in Oman, Mehr reported.

Velayati note that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has not allowed anyone to hold negotiations with the United States.

"I have held no talks with the Americans neither in Oman nor any other country," Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution told Mehr news agency on Saturday.

"This rumor is basically nothing but a lie," he added, reiterating that no talks have been held so far with the US on a legal basis and with the Leader's permission.

The Iranian official emphasized that the US should "definitely make a revision in its policies" and said, "The nuclear issue is our strategic issue. The Islamic Republic of Iran will never give up its right to peaceful nuclear energy."

Velayati added that there is consensus on Iran's nuclear energy program "which is a national issue" and warned that if the US and its allies seek to monopolize nuclear energy, they will use it as a tool to exploit Third World countries.

He noted that US policies in the region have reached an impasse and expressed confidence that Washington would not repeat its experience of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in Iran.

"Today, the US is weaker than the US at a time when it attacked Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran is currently far stronger than Iraq and Afghanistan," the senior Iranian official pointed out.

He said that the US suffered defeats in wars on Iraq and Afghanistan with significant human and financial loss, adding American officials would not think of an attack on Iran if they were wise.