Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, May 15 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said India could play a “greater role” in efforts to restore peace in West Asia amid the ongoing regional conflict.

Addressing a news conference in New Delhi, Araghchi said there was no military solution to issues related to Iran and stressed that the crisis could only be resolved through negotiations.

“There can’t be any solution other than a negotiated settlement on the West Asia crisis,” he said.

Araghchi, who is in India to attend a BRICS conclave, said Tehran would welcome any constructive role played by New Delhi.

“We will welcome any constructive role by India,” he said.

The Iranian minister also said Tehran was prepared to facilitate the movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, though he described the situation in the strategic waterway as “very complicated”.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade passes.

Commenting on talks with the United States, Araghchi said negotiations were “suffering from trust”.

“Iran has every reason not to trust US while Americans have every reason to trust us,” he said.

Araghchi also said mediation efforts by Pakistan had “not failed yet”.

He reiterated that Iran had never sought nuclear weapons.