Pezeshkian: Iran hopes to help create unity, bring back security to region
Iranian, Saudi, Pakistani, Turkish officials discuss regional security
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that the Islamic Republic hopes to help create unity and bring back security to the region after hosting a quadrilateral meeting in Tehran.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in a meeting with delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in Tehran.
During the meeting, the Iranian president said Iran is firmly ready to deepen ties with regional countries, resolve differences and draw on the shared capabilities of Islamic nations.
He noted that the region had witnessed years of violent acts and widespread crimes by Israel, which he accused of relying on state terrorism and US support to commit repeated crimes while accusing others of terrorism.
Condemning Israeli actions in Gaza, Lebanon and other regional countries, Pezeshkian said the aggression had also extended to Iran.
Such actions, he said, had no legal, humanitarian or rational justification and underscored the urgent need for Muslim countries to adopt a common approach to confronting aggression and insecurity.
“I hope the presence of representatives of important and influential Islamic countries at this meeting will pave the way for further strengthening regional unity and cohesion,” the Iranian president said.
The Iranian president also urged Muslim nations to remain vigilant against interventionist and divisive policies, saying one of the objectives pursued by the United States and Israel was to weaken regional countries, drive a wedge between Muslim nations and gradually undermine major Islamic states.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey’s intelligence service represented their countries in the meeting, which recently signed a security pact.
Earlier on the day, the delegations also held a separate meeting with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Major General Mohsen Rezaei and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the meeting was proposed during Asim Munir’s recent visit to Tehran and was welcomed by Iran.
Exploring mechanisms for regional security
Responding to a question from IRNA about the purpose and format of the gathering, Baqaei said the participation of senior officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan reflected efforts to explore mechanisms for regional security.
“This meeting could serve as a prelude to further steps toward shaping endogenous security, an issue we have insisted on for decades. We have consistently emphasized that regional security can only be ensured by relying on the will and security considerations of the countries of the region,” Baqaei said.
Qatari mediators in Tehran
Qatari mediators also traveled to Tehran on Sunday, working in coordination with the US, as part of efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, according to a regional official speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.
Following the US-Israeli aggression against Iran on February 28, Iranian Armed Forces launched retaliatory attacks on US bases in the regional countries, inflicting heavy blows on the US military.
After Iran’s strong response to the US aggression, regional countries have increasingly concluded that the US security umbrella has failed to guarantee their security.