Russia Among 6 States Mediating Between US, Iran - Source Close To Iraqi Prime Minister

(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Russia Among 6 States Mediating Between US, Iran - Source Close to Iraqi Prime Minister

BAGHDAD (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st May, 2019) Russia, along with five other countries, mediates in resolving the conflict between the United States and Iran, a source close to the Iraqi prime minister told Sputnik on Monday.

"Russia is among the countries that mediate in resolving the conflict between Washington and Tehran, along with Qatar, Iraq, Switzerland, Oman and Japan," the source said.

He noted that on Tuesday and Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abd Mahdi would visit Qatar and Kuwait as part of a regional tour.

"The prime minister has stepped up mediation through visits to Qatar and Kuwait," the source said.

US-Iranian tensions first flared up last year when the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and started reinstating sanctions against Tehran.

On May 8, Iran announced its decision to partially discontinue its obligations under the nuclear agreement.

In recent weeks, the United States has stepped up its military forces in the middle East in what National Security Advisor John Bolton has called a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime. The United States has recently deployed to the region an aircraft carrier strike group, Patriot missiles, B-52 bombers and F-15 fighters, according to the Pentagon. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran does not intend to wage war with the United States but will continue to resist Washington.