OMM Newsroom
Iran continues dialogue with Saudi Arabia as it seeks new regional security arrangements led by countries in the region and without foreign military presence, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.
“We have no hostility toward the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” Araghchi wrote on “X”. He said Iran appreciated the positive role played by Qatar and Oman and was continuing its dialogue with Saudi Arabia.
“Our goal is to reach new regional security arrangements established by the countries of the region themselves, away from any foreign military presence,” he said.
In an interview with “Al Jazeera” on Monday, Araghchi said Iran had discussed new regional security structures with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan during a recent visit to Tehran by delegations from those countries. The talks focused on cooperation among regional powers in addressing political, security and economic challenges, he said, adding that the four countries had agreed to continue consultations at different levels.
Araghchi said Tehran had no intention of targeting “friendly Gulf countries”. He warned that if Washington launched another attack on Iran, US military bases and other American targets in the region would be included in Iran’s response.
He urged Gulf countries to help prevent another confrontation and praised Qatar’s mediation efforts, as well as the positions of Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz
Araghchi outlined a Qatari-mediated proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Under the proposal, the US would first implement a series of measures sought by Tehran, and the waterway would reopen the following day.
Iran’s demands include lifting sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum, ending the maritime blockade, allowing Iranian oil exports, releasing frozen Iranian assets and reducing the US military presence in the region to previous levels, Araghchi said.
He said implementation of those conditions could pave the way for renewed negotiations with Washington on the same day the strait is reopened.
Araghchi also said Iran had held a round of indirect talks in New York with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner through Qatari mediation. He denied reports that an agreement had been reached to hold direct talks in Qatar, Türkiye or elsewhere.
Tehran views negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz separately from any future agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, Araghchi said, adding that proposals on the nuclear issue remained under consideration.
The remarks came amid continuing indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington following the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran continued to exchange messages with Washington through mediators. He added that Iran’s revised seven-stage diplomatic proposal could be fully implemented within two days.
Baqaei said progress towards restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz depended on Washington ending its naval blockade and addressing Iran’s demands, including sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets.
Tehran has said it remains open to diplomacy while warning that its armed forces are prepared to respond to any renewed military action.
