President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran remains committed to dialogue and negotiations to promote peace and security and resolve regional issues, despite the US being in pursuit of war, insecurity, and imposing its will through force.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 26th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a high-level meeting in the SCO Plus format in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday.
Iran has always strived to establish peace and security and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations, he said.
But the United States has unfortunately chosen the path of war, insecurity, and imposing its will through force instead of using diplomatic mechanisms, Pezeshkian added.
The Iranian president hailed India’s support and cooperation with Iran during the recent US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian underscored the need to strengthen diplomatic efforts to establish peace and security in the region.
Iran has never welcomed war while it bears responsibility to protect the people from danger and insecurity and prepare the ground for their achievement of peace, tranquility and security, Pezeshkian said.
Referring to the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Iran and the United States to resolve existing issues, he reiterated that Tehran has honored its commitments as per the MoU, but the US has failed to fulfill its obligations.
“Nevertheless, we continue to strive for agreement and understanding, and we believe that the continuation of war is in the interest of neither us, nor the region, nor humanity,” the Iranian president stated.
Unfortunately, Pezeshkian said, certain groups in the United States see their interests in the continuation of war and seek to prolong conflicts.
He called for strengthening the will of those seeking peace and moving toward peace, stability and security.
Pointing to India’s important position and capabilities in the region and the world, the Iranian president called on the Indian prime minister to use his country’s relations with various parties to help them move away from war and bloodshed and return to the path of dialogue and agreement.
“We believe that dialogue and cooperation are the solution to the existing issues, and all capabilities must be mobilized to prevent the spread of insecurity and conflict.”
Speaking before departing Tehran for Bishkek, Pezeshkian said Iran has consistently conveyed its “clear” message to the international community that it does not seek war but will respond firmly to any act of aggression.
“We are not seeking war, and this is a clear message that we have repeatedly communicated to the world.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said Tehran was ready to promote its longstanding and friendly relations with New Delhi in all areas.
“Iran and India have extensive capacities for expanding cooperation in political, economic, scientific, cultural and other areas of mutual interest. It is possible to further enhance relations between the two countries by strengthening bilateral cooperation and neutralizing the effects of sanctions,” the Iranian president said.
The United States and Israel are working to create obstacles to Iran’s cooperation with other countries, Pezeshkian said. Tehran is ready to expand cooperation with India in various fields despite such pressures, he added.
For his part, Modi said New Delhi sought to maintain its cooperation and communication with Iran during the recent difficult period.
The Indian prime minister said he agrees with Pezeshkian’s view that some groups see their interests in the continuation of war and stressed the importance of increasing efforts to establish peace.
Peace and security will ultimately prevail, Modi said.
Iran’s military, defense cooperation aims to strengthen regional security, Pezeshkian tells Kyrgyz president
In a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Monday, Pezeshkian said Iran’s military and defense cooperation with other countries has never been against regional countries but is solely pursued within the framework of the Islamic Republic’s principled policy of strengthening regional security.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran views regional security as a collective issue and believes the most sustainable and effective way to promote security is to expand cooperation among regional countries and prevent foreign powers from interfering in regional affairs.”
Iran and Kyrgyzstan need to further strengthen great cooperation in regional and international organizations, he said, including the United Nations, the SCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Pezeshkian said some powers seek to use the United Nations and political and human rights issues as tools to exert pressure on independent countries.
“We therefore expect the Kyrgyz Republic to support fair and independent international mechanisms in order to strengthen multilateralism. This will ultimately benefit all countries,” he added.
Japarov, for his part, welcomed the expansion of economic and energy cooperation with Iran and invited capable Iranian companies in the field of oil exploration to use their capacities and expertise to cooperate with Kyrgyzstan.
