Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a tough message to the US ahead of the talks scheduled in Oman by opting for “special flight” to Muscat.
The foreign minister flew from Tehran to Tabas, a city in the Central District of Tabas County in Iran, from where he boarded the flight to Muscat, according to reports. This is highly symbolic as Tabas is the site of the failed 1980 US hostage rescue mission, when a sandstorm and equipment failures forced Washington to abort Operation Eagle Claw, killing eight American servicemen.
For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East
The Mission ordered by President Jimmy Carter after the Iranian revolution aimed to rescue 53 embassy staff held captive by Revolutionary Iran on 24 April 1980. The staff were seized at the Embassy of the United States, Tehran. As the force prepared to depart, a RH-53D helicopter crashed into a C-130 carrying extra fuel for refueling igniting a fire that killed 5 Airmen and 3 Marines. Following this, President Carter and his staff received the news and decided to abort the mission.
The Islamic regime calls this “Miracle of Tabas," and claims this caused an international scandal and weakening of the United States.
Araqchi will be accompanied on his trip to Muscat by Deputy Political Affairs Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Hamid Ghanbari, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghai, and a number of Iranian diplomats
US warning
The US has issued an emergency alert to all its citizens to leave Iran and develop an exit plan that does not rely on US government assistance.
The statement read: “American citizens in Iran should expect continued internet outages, use alternative means of communication, and consider—if possible and under safe conditions—leaving Iran by land toward Armenia or Turkey.”
In another part of the statement, the embassy recommended that American citizens who cannot leave Iran under the current circumstances take refuge in their residences or other safe buildings, and secure a stock of food, water, medicine and other necessary supplies.
The statement also warned individuals holding both Iranian and American citizenship of the increased risk of being questioned, arrested, and imprisoned, noting that displaying an American passport or having a connection to the United States could in itself be grounds for arrest by Iranian authorities.