Iran is now major player on both regional and global levels: FM
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said the Islamic Republic is a principal player in the West Asia region with a great deal of influence on regional developments.
“Iran is a major actor in the region with an effective power on regional developments. At the international sphere, Iran is today viewed as one of the outstanding players,” Amir-Abdollahian told IRIB news agency in an exclusive interview published on Thursday.
He said Iran is involved in all topics and discussions concerning the creation of a new world order.
Describing the Islamic Republic as an influential country in Asia, Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran has applied for membership in regional blocs, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the BRICS group of emerging countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as the Eurasian Economic Union.
Iran's accession to the SCO will be completed next month, the FM said. “We will become a full-fledged member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in July, when the next summit of the association is set to take place.”
Elsewhere in his remarks on Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian pointed to the latest visit by Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to Tehran, stating that the trip was in response to the visit that President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi paid to Oman in May 2022.
The top diplomat said the Sultan’s visit mainly focused on bilateral relations and implementation of mutual agreements already signed between the two countries. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran and Oman seek to finalize a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in the near future.
Trade exchanges between Tehran and Muscat have more than doubled since last year, prompting the Omani side to seek a comprehensive cooperation agreement. Foreign ministers from both countries are working on the matter, technical teams have hence performed in-depth surveys and the accord will be finalized soon, Amir-Abdollahian said.
On Afghanistan, the FM said Iran and its eastern neighbor share a border of about 900 kilometers and the two countries have a lot in common. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran hosts a large number of Afghan refugees, and the two nations have many religious and cultural commonalities.
He also touched down on recent skirmishes between Iranian border guards and Taliban forces, underscoring that Taliban officials have clearly stated that the clashes were merely unintended.
The FM said Iran’s water rights from the Helmand (Hirmand) River is a major priority of the government. He said the country will explore all legal and political channels in this regard.
President Raeisi has assigned Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qomi to seriously pursue the water rights, Amir-Abdollahian said.
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