Iran Urges Regional Countries to Move Away from Reliance on US for Security
Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that countries in the region have concluded that they can no longer rely on the United States for their security as they did in the past and must move towards regional security mechanisms.
Baqaei said during his weekly press conference on Monday, August 10, that recent developments have shown that “security is not a commodity that can be bought,” and countries should focus on mutual cooperation and internal capacities to strengthen stability.
Referring to the consequences of the Gaza war and Israeli attacks in the region, he said recent events have reinforced the perception that relying on America’s claims to provide security has been ineffective. According to him, Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, as well as threats against other regional countries, have played a role in shaping this viewpoint.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also described the United States as part of the region’s insecurity and said Israel could not continue its actions without Washington’s support. He emphasized that from Tehran’s perspective, the security of regional countries is interconnected and must be ensured through regional cooperation.
Regarding the recent agreement among some regional countries, Baqaei said Iran views this process as a sign of a shift in regional calculations and welcomes it. He described Iran’s relations with Pakistan and Turkey as longstanding and based on religious and civilizational ties, adding that Tehran sees no reason to be concerned about neighboring countries’ agreements.
In another part of his remarks, he stated that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on conditions including the end of what he called the “naval blockade of Iran by the US and Israel.” Baqaei added that talks have taken place on mechanisms to monitor security of transit, environmental protection, and provision of maritime services in this waterway.
Baqaei also said Tehran currently has no direct negotiations with Washington, and messages are exchanged through intermediaries. According to him, Iran’s current focus is on negotiations with Oman.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced the continuation of security consultations with Iraq and added that Tehran has also held talks with Afghanistan concerning water issues, which is considered one of the important topics in relations between the two countries.
