Iran reiterates call for dialogue among neighbors ‘now that Trump’s gone’

Iran’s foreign minister has once again called on the regional countries to settle their differences through dialogue, especially now that the hawkish US president is leaving office.

“Trump is gone, and we and our neighbors will stay,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an Arabic tweet Sunday.

“Relying on foreigners does not bring security; it rather destroys hope,” he added.

“We extend our hands to our neighbors for cooperation to realize the common interests of our peoples and countries,” Zarif said, inviting everyone to “dialogue as the only way to end differences and tensions.”

“Together to build a better future for our region.”

The Iranian foreign minister later made the same comments in an English tweet as well.

A sincere message to our neighbors:

Trump's gone in 70 days

But we'll remain here forever

Betting on outsiders to provide security is never a good gamble

We extend our hand to our neighbors for dialog to resolve differences

Only together can we build a better future for all.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) November 8, 2020

Last month, Zarif had stressed the importance of implementing Tehran’s peace initiative to promote security in the Persian Gulf, dubbed Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), calling for collective cooperation among neighbors to establish “inclusive dialogue and security networking” in the region.

In an address to a virtual debate of the United Nations Security Council under the title “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Comprehensive Review of the Situation in the Persian Gulf” on October 20, Zarif said, “Security is contingent on a reliance on our own peoples and cooperation with our own neighbors.”

“We need collective efforts by regional countries to establish inclusive dialogue and security networking in this region,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

“Otherwise, we will all be engulfed in turmoil for generations to come,” he added, warning that turmoil in the region “will be everyone’s turmoil.”

He said the most sophisticated weaponry can be purchased by money but “security and stability can never be bought.”

The Iranian foreign minister further emphasized that the region is in need of a “fundamental paradigm shift” and said, “We need a strong region that precludes hegemonic illusions by any power— regional or global. [We need] a strong region that requires homegrown political and territorial stability.”

Region needs collective efforts to establish inclusive dialogue, security networking: Iran FM

Iran’s Foreign Minister says the Persian Gulf region needs collective cooperation to establish inclusive dialogue and security networking.

Addressing a speech at the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2019, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani presented the HOPE initiative and invited all regional countries to participate in it.

Iran’s initiative comes as US President Donald Trump has been trying to persuade America’s allies into a maritime coalition purportedly seeking to boost security in the Persian Gulf, after it blamed Tehran for two separate attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in May and June 2019, without providing any credible evidence to back up the allegation, which Iran has categorically rejected.

Tehran has repeatedly said outsiders not only cannot safeguard the region, but will fuel tensions there. Iran believes it is the countries of the very region which can ensure regional peace.

Prior to the Hormuz initiative, Iran had offered to sign non-aggression agreements with all countries in the Persian Gulf region.

Zarif also said in late May 2019 that Iran sought the best of relations with the Persian Gulf littoral countries and would welcome any proposals for dialog and de-escalation toward that end.

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