Iran Prefers Dialogue in Settling Regional Disputes

President Hassan Rouhani said diplomacy and dialogue are always prioritized as Iran's options for dealing with hostile regional governments.

"Our decision and belief is that regional countries should solve their problems themselves and should not think that the region can achieve happiness, unity and calm through weapons and with the support of Zionists and Americans," Rouhani's official website quoted him as saying.

"Calm and stability can only be achieved through cooperation among regional countries."

The president was speaking to reporters after a meeting with the heads of the other two branches of government, namely Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani, on Saturday.

"Although Iran is a capable and powerful country and, if necessary, can adopt any approach, it regards interaction and negotiation … as a priority and always prefers it," he said.

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz revealed last week Israel has had covert contacts with Saudi Arabia amid common concerns over Iran, a first disclosure by a senior official from either side of long-rumored secret dealings.

Both Saudi Arabia and Israel view Iran as an archenemy and increased tension between Tehran and Riyadh has fuelled speculation that shared interests may push Saudi Arabia and Israel to work together.

Steinitz, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security Cabinet, did not characterize the contacts or give details when asked why Israel was "hiding its ties" with Saudi Arabia.

He replied, "We have ties that are indeed partly covert with many Muslim and Arab countries, and usually [we are] the party that is not ashamed. It's the other side that is interested in keeping the ties quiet."

The Israeli military chief, Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot, had earlier said Israel was ready to share "intelligence information" with Saudi Arabia, saying they had a common interest in standing up to Iran.

Rouhani said, "There is evidence that Zionists are actively pursuing adventurism followed by some countries in the region. Some major powers also support their adventurism."

The president also told reporters that he and the other two top officials in the Saturday meeting discussed how to speed up relief and rehabilitation efforts in the quake-hit western province of Kermanshah.

Kermanshah and the regions bordering Iraq suffered a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Nov. 12 that killed over 500 people and injured thousands of others.      

It was Iran's deadliest earthquake in more than a decade and has left many of the survivors homeless and in dire need of food, water and shelter.

The earthquake sent thousands huddling in makeshift camps and made many others spend the following couple of nights in the open for fear of more tremors after about 200 aftershocks.

There have been some complaints about the slow pace of aid and rescue operations, prompting a call by the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for intensified aid efforts.

"Officials have had a brilliant performance in some areas and worked hard … But I am still not quite satisfied and the authorities in various sectors are expected to redouble their efforts," Ayatollah Khamenei said last week.

Rouhani had promised to resolve "the problems in the shortest time" during a visit to the quake-stricken region.