In an article published in four arabic newspapers including Egypt’s El Sherouk, Lebanon's Assafir, Kuwait’s Alrai and Qatar’s Al-shaq, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed the need for promoting regional dialogs.
Zarif added that such regional dialogs must be based on common objectives and some general principles accepted among the regional states including “respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all countries; non-breaching borders; non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; peaceful settlement of disputes; prohibition of threats or use of force; and promotion of peace, stability, progress and prosperity in the region.”
Zarif stressed that Iran’s top priority is to have strong relations with its neighboring countries; “my regional tour to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq immediately after the historical nuclear accord between Iran and the five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany was exactly in line with this strategy in Iran’s foreign policy,” wrote Zarif.
Noting that the nuclear agreement reached on July 14 in Vienna was a vital starting point for the region, Zarif added the deal was an achievement for all regional states as it ended a twelve-year long unnecessary tension that threatened the region more than anywhere else.
While asserting that the security of no country could be guaranteed in an unstable region, Zarif added that Yemen could serve as a good example for starting serious debates on the resolution of conflicts.
The Iranian senior diplomat then pointed to Iran’s four-point peace plan on resolving Yemen crisis that was submitted to the UN which includes “ceasefire and an immediate end to all foreign military attacks; unimpeded urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to the people of Yemen; resumption of Yemeni-lead and Yemeni-owned national dialogue, with the participation of the representatives of all political parties and social groups; and establishment of an inclusive national unity government.”
He further called on all countries in the region to promote cooperation to settle various issues such as terrorism and extremism, sectarian and tribal conflicts and expand scientific cooperation in fields such as peaceful nuclear energy.