TEHRAN -- Iranian Defense
Minister Brigadier General Muhammad Reza Ashtiani says the U.S. is seeking to create a unipolar and hierarchical world order, but independent countries and new poles of power in the world have challenged Washington’s hegemony.
During a meeting with his visiting Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar here, Ashtiani stated that the world and the West Asia region, due to geopolitical and geostrategic rivalry of global powers, are experiencing a period of transition and are undergoing fundamental changes as a new order is being created.
“The United States is seeking to create a unipolar and hierarchical world order. Naturally, independent countries and new poles of power in the world have challenged the U.S. hegemony, and are standing against the process,” he said.
Ashtiani said West Asia is enjoying relative peace following a turbulent and chaotic period as a result of threats caused by terrorism, extremism, separatism and proxy wars.
“However, threats still loom in the region, and important regional countries are still required to use their capacities in order to ensure security.”
The Iranian defense minister went on to describe combat against extremism, terrorism and separatism as a common concern for both Iran and Turkey, stressing the significance of cooperation and coordination between the two neighboring countries in this regard.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s approach to regional issues is founded on participation of regional countries to resolve issues through dialogue, respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, and opposition to any border and territorial changes,” Ashtiani stated.
He also touched on attempts by some regional Arab attempts to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel, saying, “The occupying regime of Al-Quds is the bitter and implacable enemy of Muslim countries.”
Ashtiani stated that Iran views Turkey as an effective country in the Muslim world, which has numerous capacities in political, economic and international dimensions.
“Naturally, coordination and cooperation between the two countries is needed to strengthen mutual relations, and to protect the benefits
of the region and Muslim world,” he said.
Ashtiani further stated that Iran and Turkey have significant capacities in military and defense sectors, stating that there are enormous opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, and Tehran is ready to dispatch high-profile defense, military and technical delegations to Ankara.
Akar, for his part, pointed to a wide range of commonalities between Iran and Turkey, and said cooperation between the two countries is important to maintain bilateral and regional stability and security.
“Terrorism is now a tool of imperialism. The enemies are trying to foment insecurity in the region through such a tool and launch a proxy war,” the Turkish defense minister said.