Tehran, MINA – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on neighboring countries to strengthen regional cooperation, saying they can maintain their own security without relying on the United States, Anadolu Agency reports.
Speaking at an event marking a local holiday on Thursday, Pezeshkian emphasized the shared religious and regional ties among neighboring nations, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency.
“We are brothers with all the countries around us, and we are all Muslims. Therefore, we can help one another and ensure the security of our region,” he said.
He argued that countries in the region did not need Washington’s military involvement to maintain stability, criticizing the United States for deploying forces far from its own territory while claiming to provide security.
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Pezeshkian also criticized US military spending and accused Washington of violating rules while justifying its regional presence on security grounds.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington following the outbreak of the current conflict on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran subsequently retaliated against Israel and locations in Arab countries that it said hosted US positions.
The two sides signed a framework agreement on June 18 and later began negotiations. However, the talks subsequently collapsed amid disagreements over freedom and security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global energy and commercial shipments.
Iran has long opposed the military presence of outside powers in the Middle East, arguing that regional countries should take primary responsibility for their own security. Tehran maintains that greater cooperation among neighboring states would provide an alternative to security arrangements involving foreign military forces.
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Pezeshkian’s latest comments also come as Iran seeks closer ties with neighboring countries, including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Quadrilateral meetings involving the four countries have addressed regional security and cooperation.
However, efforts to establish a regional security framework without outside military involvement face challenges amid longstanding rivalries and differing security priorities across the Middle East.
International calls for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy continue as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program remain among the issues complicating relations between Tehran and Washington.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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