Iran Outlines Priorities in Address to D-8 Session

Date: 27 July 2022 - 21:51

News ID: ۱۰۵۲۰۴

TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said Wednesday Iran attaches great significance to economic diplomacy and promotion of all-out relations with neighboring and other Muslim states, describing them as two main priorities of the country’s foreign policy.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran tries to foster national and regional peace, stability and development through engaging with its neighbors and other regional countries,” Amir-Abdollahian said in his virtual address to the 20th Session of the Council of Ministers of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation in the Bangladeshi capital city of Dhaka.
He stressed that Tehran tries, in international forums and conferences, to draw other countries’ attention to the remarkable role of regional cooperation in safeguarding peace and stability and facilitating their national development.
“We have always supported the collective efforts made by developing countries to fulfill the creation of an efficient international economic system as well as the achievement of economic development and growth, people’s welfare and well-being, preservation of values and national cultures and the attainment of a proper standing in international relations,” he said.
The top Iranian diplomat highlighted that D-8 member nations enjoy abundant natural and human capacities, energy reserves as well as eager private sectors, stating that its states need to pay more attention to collective cooperation in the post-COVID-19 era.
“Iran is prepared to place all its political, economic and cultural capacities and capabilities at the disposal of the economic growth as well as the development welfare, and progress” of the D-8 member states, Amir-Abdollahian said.
He said that Iran, in light of unlawful and unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the United States, has relied upon its indigenous resolve and might to achieve significant achievements and great breakthroughs in different areas.
“We have voiced our preparedness to help the international community to cope with the current energy crisis and counter threats related to food insecurity,” the foreign minister said.
He also said Iran, as the possessor of huge energy sources, is prepared to contribute to the endeavors aimed at guaranteeing the security of energy supply.
The D-8 developing bloc was founded in 1997 based on an initiative by Turkey. The group is comprised of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria and Indonesia.
On Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran is “serious” about reaching a sustainable and strong agreement amid the ongoing talks aimed at potential fresh removal of the U.S.’ inhumane sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Writing on his Instagram page, he said he had made the remarks during telephone conversations with his counterparts from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Iraq.
During the conversations, the Iranian official explained the initiatives that Iran had come up with in order to “keep the diplomatic window of opportunity open.”
“The talks’ final stage depends on the two elements of realism and flexibility on the part of the American side,” Amir-Abdollahian noted.
For their part, the Arab countries’ foreign ministers “told me that they supported Iran’s initiatives in the negotiations,” he added.

The phone calls also saw the Iranian official touching upon Iran’s relations with its fellow regional nations, describing “neighbor-oriented policy” as Tehran’s priority.

“We’re going to accelerate our cooperation with [our] neighbors,” Amir-Abdollazhian said.

“Down this path, no foreigner can come in the way of the regional cooperation process,” he added, saying his counterparts had welcomed Iran’s regional diplomacy.

At the same time, Iran considers foreign interference in the region to be harmful, Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that the means of the region’s progress and stability lies in cooperation among the regional countries.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister, Ahmed Nasser Al Muhammad Al Sabah, also said his country is interested in improving ties with Tehran, adding that “Iran and Kuwait can enjoy good cooperation in various political and economic issues.”

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Emirati minister of foreign affairs, also said Iran’s “esteem” was important for Abu Dhabi, with Amir-Abdollahian saying, in response, that Iran enjoyed the same attitude towards the Emirates and that there were innumerable economic opportunities before the two nations that could be a source of benefit for both.

He went on to say that he warned his counterparts that the Israeli regime’s presence in the region would lead to instability.

Amir-Abdollahian also thanked them for “their recent attempt at neutralizing the regime’s ominous plots” during a recent U.S.-Arab summit in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

The summit saw U.S. President Joe Biden attempting to pave the way for a regional security alliance, including Israel. The summit’s communiqué was, however, vague, and prevented Washington from laying the groundwork for formation of such an alliance.