Baqaei: Recent developments offer opportunity to rethink Persian Gulf security
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said recent conflicts in the region have created an opportunity for countries in the region to discuss the future of Persian Gulf security from a more realistic perspective.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman in an interview with Tunisia’s Al Chourouk newspaper said the military presence of foreign powers is the main source of insecurity and that Persian Gulf security should be ensured by regional states themselves.
"I think the developments of recent months have contained important lessons for all countries in the region," Baqaei said, reiterating Tehran's longstanding position that regional security must be provided by the countries of the region.
Iran has long stressed the need to establish a regional security arrangement, Baqaei said, adding that the future should be built around a framework in which regional countries safeguard their own security without interference from extra-regional powers.
However, he stressed that such an arrangement would not take shape overnight but dialogue among regional states and progress towards a shared understanding of regional security mechanisms would constitute an important and necessary step.
He said Iran consistently respected the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of countries in the region.
Iran's fundamental policy, Baqaei said, is based on good-unneighborly relations, expanding ties with regional countries across various fields and promoting regional cooperation.
Iran launched attacks on US military bases in regional countries, especially Persian Gulf Arab states, after the US and Israel launched their unprovoked aggression against Iran in February.
Tehran has always warned regional countries hosting US troops about allowing the US to target Iran from their territories.