TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed the recent media reports that US President Barack Obama has sent a message to Iran as a first practical step to improve the relations between the two arch foes."The report released by (the London-based pan-Arab daily) al-Hayat in this regard is not true," Zarif told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday and in response to the question if the Arab daily's report was true.
Al-Hayat claimed on Tuesday that Obama is eager to turn a new page in his governments relations with Iran and its newly installed President Hassan Rouhani.
According to Al-Hayat, Obama communicated his message to the Tehran government through an emissary, the ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
"Washington has called on Iran to move beyond rhetoric and take practical steps which demonstrate its willingness to improve ties with the West," Al-Hayat claimed.
The United States and Iran broke diplomatic relations in April 1980, after Iranian students seized the United States' espionage center at its embassy in Tehran. The two countries have had tense relations ever since, but have shown willingness to attend talks to help resolve regional issues, including security in Iraq. Yet, the two countries have avoided talks on bilateral issues for the last thirty years.
Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
By Fars News Agency
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