Iran does not expect a war with the United States despite an escalation in tensions following a US-led military deployment in the Persian Gulf, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says.
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Hossein Salami held a closed-door session with parliamentarians over the security situation in the region after the US to sent a warship, USS Arlington, an aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, and a fighter-bomber to the area.
Chairman of the national security and foreign policy committee, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, told the state-run IRNA news agency Salami had pointed out that based on studying strategic moves of the US, Iranian analysts did not expect a war against the US.
"Americans are merely looking for a psychological war, and trying to tie this issue to their sanctions and economic pressures," Falahatpisheh said on Sunday.
The MP also said the Iranian government was not going to contact President Donald Trump's administration to engage in talks.
Falahatpisheh added the US officials would have to propose "much more serious" negotiations with Iran in the future.
Regarding the US military deployment in the region, well-known Iranian MP Alaeddin Boroujerd told the Tasnim news agency American actions were not new, as these warships "have always been in the region illegally".
Salami meanwhile said a possible war with the US would endanger the US' interests and that he ruled out such a scenario.
The US Department of Defense announced on Friday it would reinforce its troops deployed in the Middle East by sending USS Arlington and the Patriot missile system to join USS Abraham Lincoln with more fighter-bombers.
"The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we are postured and ready to defend US forces and interests in the region," the Pentagon said in a statement issued on Friday.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet on Sunday John Bolton had planned the US withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal and a more aggressive approach even before the US national security adviser took up his post.
Zarif tweeted a link to a 2017 National Review article by Bolton headlined How to Get Out of the Iran Nuclear Deal.
"A detailed blueprint for (hash)FakeIntelligence, (hash)ForeverWar and even empty offers for talks-only phone numbers were not included," Zarif wrote.
CNN reported on Friday the White House had passed a telephone number to the Swiss for contacting Trump in case Iranian officials wanted to hold talks.
The Swiss embassy in Tehran represents US interests in the Islamic Republic.
Tensions between the US and Iran have grown since April when Washington opted to further squeeze Tehran by ending sanctions waivers granted to eight countries that import Iranian oil and listing the Army of the Guardians as a terror organisation.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council labelled the US troops deployed in the Middle East to be a terror group.
On Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani said his country was reducing its own commitments under the nuclear agreement and would no longer respect limits on its reserves of low-enriched uranium and heavy water, another chemical compound used in nuclear facilities.
In addition, Rouhani issued a 60-day moratorium for the rest of the signatories of the pact to fulfil Iran's demands and save the country's banking system and oil trade from international sanctions.
Australian Associated Press
