Iran Calls for “Strong West Asia” Built on Peace, Mutual Understanding and Lasting Trust
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to fostering a “strong West Asia” where regional affairs are guided by mutual understanding, peace, and enduring trust.
He made the remarks while delivering the opening address at a high-level conference titled “International Law Under Assault: Aggression and Defense,” hosted by the Foreign Ministry’s Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) in Tehran. The event brought together diplomats, scholars, and analysts from Iran and several countries, including France, Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, Russia, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Araghchi stressed that Iran envisions a region rooted in cooperation, shared values, and collective security. “In our surrounding region, Iran seeks a strong region based on common understanding, brotherhood, and peace,” he noted. “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the security of the regional countries to be the security of its own and desires for ‘lasting trust’ to be the foundation and axis of the new ambient in this region.”
In his detailed speech, Araghchi warned that international law is facing unprecedented challenges, noting that instead of global adherence to the UN Charter in its eightieth year, the world is witnessing “a full-scale assault” on its core principles. He accused certain global powers—particularly the United States and its allies—of undermining the international legal order by promoting a “force-based” rather than “law-based” global system.
He criticised what he described as Washington’s “hegemony through force,” asserting that the U.S. and some Western states have increasingly relied on military means to advance their foreign policy agendas. Araghchi argued that this shift has led to rising militarisation, geopolitical fragmentation, technological weaponisation, and the marginalisation of diplomacy worldwide.
The foreign minister also condemned Israel’s actions in the region, accusing it of committing “the most heinous crimes” under the protection of the United States and some European countries. He said developments in West Asia over the past two years illustrate the dangerous consequences of such policies and warned that no regional country remains untouched by Israel’s “military and security ambitions.”
Referring to the June 13 attack on Iranian territory, Araghchi said it represented a grave violation of international law and an assault on peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. Iran’s response, he emphasised, was conducted strictly within the framework of Article 51 of the UN Charter and adhered to international humanitarian law.
He further noted that Iran has consistently fulfilled its obligations under the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, pointing out that 15 consecutive IAEA reports had verified Iran’s compliance before the United States withdrew unilaterally from the agreement.
Despite the global challenges, Araghchi maintained that international law “is still alive—provided that we all defend it.” He called for a collective return to the principles of universality, equality, and the prohibition of force, urging the global community to choose the path of dialogue, peace, and cooperation over domination and militarism.
Reiterating Iran’s regional vision, he said: “We must all play our positive role in this region and establish a new doctrine for security, peace, prosperity, and convergence.”
The conference is expected to explore theoretical and practical frameworks for strengthening adherence to international law amid rising global tensions.
