For Regional Peace and Security

By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched massive war games to ensure peace and security across the Persian Gulf.

Date: 25 February 2015 - 20:22

News ID: ۱۱۳۹۳

The manoeuvres, code-named the Great Prophet 9, kicked off on Wednesday with mine operations and firing of coast-to-sea missiles in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The new war games are designed to enhance the defense capabilities of Iran’s armed forces and to test modern military tactics and equipment.

As maintained, the drills are not just about Iran’s security. Tehran has always expressed its willingness for cooperation with the Persian Gulf littoral states in all spheres. This is while a wide range of disputes among the littoral states plus the intervention of world powers have stopped the volatile region from having an effective security system in place.

Moreover, a number of regional and international players continue to ignore such a bona fide position, in particular the United States which continues to pursue its intrusive policies through military means, arms race and terrorism in bid to counter and contain Iran.

The fact is that the US and its cohorts want to set up Iran as a threat to the region. To this end, they encourage arms race and continue to block any type of regional agreement, cooperation, or even dialogue and exchange of views on political, economic and security issues. They know that the most important factor in progress and prosperity is provision of security for Persian Gulf in cooperation with all littoral states.

That explains why to promote peace, security and stability in the Persian Gulf, the littoral states have no other option but to establish a regional security pact. They must also cooperate and work closely with the United Nations, which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The security pact could offer a number of advantages in carrying out regional conflict management tasks as it has strong background knowledge and already existing personal relations that may be used to exert more pressure than that available to the UN. It can also be the first to be affected by the conflict to generate the political will necessary to take immediate measures to deal with the conflict.

Without question, such a joint cooperation could ultimately result in collective development and benefit the Islamic world at this crucial juncture. The officials and the people of Middle East should take note of the fact that Western powers are only after their own illicit interests.

So in closing, the least they could do is make the most of such an exceptional offer and opportunity that says no to terrorism and ethnic-religious strife and yes to collective efforts and mutual trust that can guarantee sustainable peace and stability, and safeguard Islamic solidarity all the way through the region and beyond.