Ahmad Mohammadi
THE daily passage of about 15 million barrels of oil and trade of a huge volume of commercial items among the countries of the region and beyond, depicts the strategic importance of the strait of Hormuz in international trade and energy. As such, security and stability of the strait, in order to ensure access to international markets, is an undeniable necessity. Despite it, the present challenges facing the region and presence of a number of issues including the issues of Yemen and Iraq, alongside the existing wrong approach that it may be brought to an end through violence and hegemony in favours of one country making it as a victory in the region, must make us believe that this critical region, for its lasting stability needs dialogue much more than purchase of a huge quantity of arms and signing of defence agreements with trans-regional powers.
The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that a persistent stability in this crisis-hit region depends upon reciprocal confidence, national strength and strengthening of good neighbourliness among all the regional countries. Iran believes that replacement of a strong country by a stronger region is the only solution of regional disputes, as the element of violence and coercion for years not only could not solve the regional disputes but created each day a new issue in the region. The prevailing conditions are rooted in this bitter reality that our region is suffering from the loot of comprehensive regional dialogues in various fields.
We believe dialogue with each other must replace the dialogue about each other, so that we could be able to create the necessary ground for mass participation for a collective peace progress. The Islamic Republic of Iran, which always welcomes dialogue believes that the infra-regional dialogues must replace the exchange of harsh words and accusations. Only in this way we can remove the existing challenges and disputes and also build confidence. With a full understanding of the existing threats and challenges, and in order to reduce tension and insecurity and control the soaring chain of crises which may result into an indescribable tragedy, the Islamic Republic of Iran has proposed three initiatives: Hormuz peace endeavour, regional negotiation forum and non-aggression pact, for providing ground for beginning of establishment of coalitions for trade, economic and cultural approaches among the regional countries in place of coalitions for military and security approaches, because we believe that the fate of the public and nations of the region is intertwined together and regional security is not divisible so security or insecurity affects the whole region.
On the basis of this very perception, the Hormuz peace endeavour named HOPE, has been proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the regional countries which needs an all-out cooperation for growth and development. The HOPE has been designed on the basis of principles like commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and relations based on good neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity inalterability of international borders, peaceful solution for all disputes, rejection of force and coercion, non-participation in coalitions and treaties against each other, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and foreign relations, mutual respect, reciprocal benefits, equality and respect for holy places and national, religious and historical symbols of all the countries and people of the region. The Islamic Republic of Iran, with the purpose of furnishing the detailed picture of its initiative HOPE and holding dialogues on the requisites for its success organized Tehran Dialogue Forum on 6-7 January with the hope that it could help in deepening of friendly dialogues among the regional countries for reaching to the objectives of the HOPE including promotion of peace, stability, progress and welfare of all regional governments and people, encouragement for reciprocal understanding and peaceful and friendly relations, cooperation in eradication of terrorism and extremism, settlement of disputes in a peaceful manner, through dialogue provision of energy security, freedom of shipping and unhindered transportation of oil and all other resources to and from the region.
As stressed by my country’s authorities time and again, including during the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no reservation of any kind on dialogue, cooperation, participation and play of role by countries of the region, never seeks elimination of any country from the regional balances and welcomes each and every effort from any of the regional countries including the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan for bringing security, peace and stability in the region. In the end, it is necessary to mention that Dr Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran, has time and again invited academic and diplomatic associations, think tanks, study institutes and thinkers to help the Islamic Republic of Iran in promoting this plan for peace, security, stability and prosperity of all the regional countries.
—The writer is Consul General of Iran in Karachi.
