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Persian Gulf region needs no ‘gendarme’: Iranian president
President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday rejected any foreign interference in regional security, saying that, “We do not need a gendarme in the region” amid the United States’ war on Iran.
Speaking during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in India on Saturday, Pezeshkian underlined that the territorial integrity and security of the region can only be ensured by its own countries.
Pezeshkian said Iran has no problem with its Muslim neighbors, but it is the United States that wants the “friendly and brotherly countries” to become enemies.
Iran’s Armed Forces launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in the regional countries after the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February and killed thousands of Iranians.
“They attacked our country without any reason; they martyred our Leader, children, commanders and scientists,” Pezeshkian said.
He pointed to the strikes launched from neighboring countries, noting that Iran had “no choice but to defend the country” and strike military bases used in the attacks.
Pezeshkian also held a meeting with UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan whose country hosts several US military bases from which the American military attacked Iran.
The president separately met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
“The presence of America in the region has not been a source of salvation but a factor in bloodshed,” he said during the meeting.
The president called for greater economic and financial cooperation among BRICS members, saying stronger ties could contribute to the development of member states.
Pezeshkian and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed a range of issues during a meeting on Friday. They stressed their keenness to enhance cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi.
Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran attaches great importance to the expansion of relations among BRICS member states in all fields, particularly in the economic and financial spheres.