ME NATO 'illusion' with aims of destabilization: Iran MFA

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The Arab-Israeli coalition, or the "Middle East NATO", is an "illusion", Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said during a press briefing on Monday.

"This plan is a mere illusion, and those who stand behind it have other goals, such as selling arms in the region," Khatibzadeh said. "The United States and the fake Zionist entity seek to destabilize the region."

"Iran is the anchor of peace in the region, and it will not allow for the destabilization of the region and the war and violence that came with the Zionist entity and the United States," he added.

Khatibazadeh also praised the efforts made by the European Union and its foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, about their role in the Vienna talks, stressing that the ball was in America's field. Washington must choose "whether it will steer away from Trump's legacy and adhere to the agreement."

Iranian Supreme Political Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani told EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday during the latter's visit to Iran that Tehran was after a strong, reliable, and long-lasting revival of the JCPOA.

Tehran will "seriously and decisively follow up with the talks, and it is adhering to its red lines. There are guarantees that have been implemented and must be catered to within the agreement," he underlined.

The spokesperson explained that the upcoming nuclear talks, which will be held indirectly between Iran and the United States, will take place in a Gulf state, and they will "discuss the unresolved issues regarding the lifting of sanctions."

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He also announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will go on a regional tour, and he will "head to Turkey today, then he will directly head for Turkmenistan."

The visit comes four days after the Israeli occupation's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hailed Turkey for foiling an alleged Iranian assassination plot against Israelis in Istanbul. 

Iran denied the "baseless" claims, which Tehran said were ridiculous and are part of a pre-planned plot to destroy relations between Turkey and the Islamic Republic.