Iran Has Long Protected Maritime Security in Region: Rouhani

Rouhani made the remarks during a meeting with a ranking Iraqi delegation headed by Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi in Tehran on Monday, IRNA reported.

“Over the course of history, Iran has been and will continue to be the most principal preserver of security and shipping freedom in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Sea of Oman,” the Iranian chief executive said.

The Islamic Republic, he added, would never act as the party to start any warfare or tension with other countries.

The Iraqi premier, meanwhile, pointed to existence of some plots aimed increasing regional tensions.

The comments came following multiple shipping incidents in the regional waters, which saw multiple explosions on board many vessels.

The United States and some of its Western and regional allies have been uselessly trying to blame the Islamic Republic for the incidents, saying Tehran has been trying to retaliate for Washington’s efforts at preventing Iranian oil sales throughout the world.

The US has been trying to reduce Iran’s oil revenues to “zero” after leaving a nuclear accord with the Islamic Republic and others and returning the sanctions that the agreement had lifted.

Iran has roundly rejected any part in the incidents, reminding the significance of regional maritime security to international trade.

It has insisted that it would sell its crude despite the American bans, but has invariably spurned using violence towards the purpose.

Abdul-Mahdi then asserted, “Iraq has never played and will never play any role in enforcement of sanctions against Iran.” Baghdad’s insistence on keeping up its trade with Tehran despite the US’s sanctions has forced Washington to issue it several waivers.

Bilateral ties

Rouhani hailed implementation over the recent years of “effective steps” in expansion of the countries’ relations, noting, “This trend will surely continue.”

Enhancement of the countries’ cooperation and relations “will definitely have a [positive] effect in expansion and enhancement of stability and security in the region,” he added, and laid emphasis on the importance of dialog in resolution of regional predicaments.

Abdul-Mahdi, for his part, called the feeling of fraternity and amity between the countries “reciprocal.” He also reminded that the countries’ security was integrated and that both had to invest in efforts aimed at guarding their shared border.