Iran, KSA cooperation crucial to region’s security, economy: MP
The cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two largest oil producers in the world, will prevent the power-hungry countries from interfering and abusing the oil and energy resources, says a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Energy Committee.
In an interview with Iran Daily, Abdol-Ali Rahimi stressed that Iran and Saudi Arabia are now among the largest producers of oil, gas, and energy in the world, and both countries are important members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). “The cooperation of these two countries in the field of energy can surely cut the hands of countries that somehow try to colonize, exploit, and plunder the wealth and energy reserves of the two neighbors,” he added. Referring to last year’s approval of Iran’s bid for permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the legislator pointed out the fact that Saudi Arabia, which is now standing on Iran’s side as part of a separate negotiation, joined the SCO on April 2023 as a “dialogue partner” can provide a clear perspective on the role the two will play in the world’s energy management.
The SCO is an intergovernmental organization formed to increase multilateral security as well as economic and cultural cooperation. The organization was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan with the aim of establishing a regional balance against the influence of the United States and NATO.
Referring to the need to strengthen the relations between countries with rich resources and reserves in the world, Rahimi said that naturally, the Western powers are trying to achieve their goals and exploit their resources by “creating an unhealthy competition between these countries and causing rifts among them.”
He then went on to note that the more the countries that are aligned and have common interests can deepen their relations and coordinate their actions, especially in the field of oil and energy, the more prominent of a role they can play in producing, supplying, and pricing energy, “which is the main economic indicator in the world today.”
“Improving our relations with countries like Saudi Arabia and other producers (of oil and gas) in the region can both enhance our impact on the world’s energy economy and expand our activities by creating an energy hub,” the MP highlighted.
He then noted that Iran must increase its cooperation with countries like Saudi Arabia according to the good neighborliness policy. “If we want to have security and expand our economy and trade ties in the region, we must prioritize cooperation with our neighboring countries,” he said.