Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called on the regional states to strengthen solidarity and seek establishment of a collective regional order amid withdrawal of the powers from the region.

"In fact, we should pay attention to our historical undertakings about the need to found a collective regional system and do not allow that political and security arrangements (dictated) from outside the region and foreign meddling affect our fate," Salehi said in a message to the international conference on Basra-Bushehr-Muscat Cultural and Historical Ties held in Iran's Southern port city of Bushehr today.

He pointed to talks about withdrawal of the US and other foreign troops from the region, and added, "These conditions require the regional states to embark on reinvigorating regional solidarity and lowering tensions in a bid to increase the level of their contacts in all social layers, specially among researchers."

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned the trans-regional states, specially the US, to pull their troops and warships out of the Persian Gulf, underlining the necessity for the establishment of security in the Persian Gulf through extensive and all-out cooperation among the regional states.

In relevant remarks in December, a senior military aide to the Iranian supreme leader said that trans-regional powers are trying to confine Iran's power through sparking insecurity around the country.

"The trans-regional enemies are pursuing a certain view (on Iran) and are creating insecurities in the regions around our country in a bid to block the Islamic Republic of Iran's progress and emergence of a mighty Iran," senior Military Aide to the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said at the time.

He further said that the Persian Gulf region plays a key role in Iran's plans for progress and prosperity, and underlined the necessity for advancement, justice and durable security in the region.
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News ID 184424