FM Araghchi Warns of Global Rivalries to Control Region

.MUSCAT (Dispatches) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi here Sunday stressed the importance of ensuring maritime security through cooperation among the regional countries without the meddling of outside powers.
“We believe that maritime security should not be used as a lever for pressure or influence by extra-regional powers; rather it should be the outcome of cooperation among the regional nations,” he told the Indian Ocean Conference.
Moe than 60 countries and international organizations are attending the two-day conference themed “Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership” with the aim of building new partnerships.
Araghchi warned that certain extra-regional powers seek to exploit political, economic and security gaps in the region, and undermine natural cooperation among regional countries.
“We cannot allow the geopolitical rivalries of global powers to determine the future of this region,” he said. 
“Decisions about the destiny of the Indian Ocean must be made by the countries of this region and shall serve the interests of their people.”
Araghchi said Iran’s navy, in cooperation with regional states, has consistently played a part in anti-piracy operations, combating drug trafficking and organized crime, and ensuring navigational security.
As a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), Araghchi said, Iran emphasizes its commitment to multilateralism, as well as economic and security cooperation in the region.
Iran has placed a “maritime-oriented” policy at the forefront of its strategic development, he said, adding that the government has devised a plan for the development of ports, maritime transportation, and the establishment of a regional supply chain.
The Islamic Republic believes that its coasts are not merely natural borders but gateways connecting the country to the global economy, Araghchi said.
“A country with over 5,800 kilometers of coastline – 4,900 kilometers of which stretch across the south along this vast ocean – cannot remain indifferent to its future. Developing a maritime-based economy is not just an option for Iran; it is an imperative.” 
Araghchi underlined the significance of the Makran coast along the Sea of Oman, calling it a “lost paradise” which must be transformed into the economic hub of Iran and West Asia.
“The Makran coast holds a special place,” he said, adding its shores whose natural and economic potential had been overlooked for centuries have now become a national development priority.
“The lost paradise of Makran must transform into the future economic hub of Iran and the region,” he added.
Araghchi touched on four key objectives which the Iranian government has sketched out for the development of the region.
They include strengthening native and local economies, developing energy infrastructure with a focus on renewable energy, completing international transit corridors and strengthening transportation routes and attracting domestic and foreign investment.
“No economy can grow without sustainable investment, and we welcome all countries that wish to contribute to the development of this region,” he said.
The minister cited the rapid pace of economic and technological developments, the reliance of nations on new trade routes, and the need for regional security and cooperation have become more critical than ever. 
“In such circumstances, traditional routes and old patterns of trade alone should no longer suffice. We ought to design a future where the Indian Ocean is not just a transit route but a hub of strategic and economic cooperation,” he said.
Araghchi said establishing a network of rail, road, and maritime routes that connect Iran to other countries in the region and beyond is a key pillar of the Islamic Republic’s maritime-oriented policy. 
Iran is also “convinced that the economy of the future depends on sustainable and clean energy”. 
“Investing in new energy technologies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels is not only environmentally essential but from an economic standpoint shall encourage regional competitiveness,” he added.