Iran has stated that security in the region should be ensured by the countries of the region themselves, not by external powers.
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the opening ceremony of the 20th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Conference hosted by the Milli Majlis.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that diplomacy can only be sustainable and effective when it is based on mutual respect, equality, recognition of state sovereignty, and popular support.
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament noted that the future of the region should be determined by the decisions of the peoples and states of the region, not by the interests of external powers. He emphasized that regional security can only be ensured through the joint efforts of the countries of the region, and no state can build its security at the expense of another's security.
In his speech, Ghalibaf stated that the Islamic world possesses vast economic, energy, transit, and human resources, and emphasized the importance of utilizing this potential for the sustainable development and prosperity of Muslim countries. He noted that energy resources, transit corridors, scientific and human capital should serve common development goals.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf added that Iran sees the future of the region in cooperation, not confrontation, in coexistence, not isolation, and in common and local security mechanisms, not in an imported security model. According to him, Tehran is ready to expand cooperation with all Islamic countries based on the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, good neighborliness, and common interests.
He also stated that Iran supports the creation of common mechanisms in economic, trade, financial, scientific, and collective security fields. Ghalibaf also assessed the presence of foreign military forces in the region as a risk to stability and called their withdrawal from the region a strategic goal.
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament emphasized that neighborhood is not only geographical proximity but also a shared responsibility. In his opinion, policies aimed at weakening, isolating, or destabilizing neighboring countries cannot bring long-term stability.
Ghalibaf noted that Iran offers sustainable economic cooperation, as well as security agreements, to all Islamic countries, especially the states of the region and the countries located in the Persian Gulf basin. He stated that such cooperation can serve both to transform the region into a safer place for investment and to build a more resilient system against common threats.
It should be recalled that representatives of a third party - the European Monitoring Mission - have been deployed in Armenia, Iran's neighbor.
