WANA (May 21) – Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in an article titled “Forging a New Regional Reality: Towards Sovereign Stability and Solidarity in West Asia”, wrote:

 

The international community must confront a fundamental truth: a regime that systematically violates international law, resorts to unchecked militarism, and enjoys practical impunity cannot be part of any sustainable regional security architecture.

 

Araghchi emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s message to the world is clear: lasting peace in West Asia can only be achieved by empowering regional actors.

 

He argued that West Asia is currently navigating a period of profound instability shaped by intertwined crises and mounting pressures. The region faces a complex web of geopolitical turmoil, chronic insecurity, and worsening humanitarian conditions.

 

Decades of unresolved conflicts—exacerbated by foreign interventions and environmental degradation—have displaced millions and darkened once-promising horizons. Climate-induced water scarcity, compounded by resource mismanagement, threatens the very foundations of life across many countries. Simultaneously, the growing refugee crisis, driven by war and economic collapse, is placing immense strain on the region and creating global humanitarian repercussions.

 

Beneath these visible challenges lies a deeper layer of historical grievances and political fragmentation. Relations between states—long molded by externally imposed narratives—have obstructed the path to sustainable, collective solutions.

 

A Regional Order Must Emerge From Within

In many cases, regional actors have reacted to crises rather than shaping events. As a result, the prevailing reality appears imposed, not reflective of collective will—shaped more by outside dictations than by mutual dialogue and internal decision-making.

 

To chart a new path, the region must move beyond outdated mindsets and imported assumptions that no longer reflect the aspirations of its people. A sustainable regional order must be homegrown, founded on mutual recognition, inclusive dialogue, and shared responsibility. This transformation is not idealistic—it is a political and social necessity. Reality, both in West Asia and elsewhere, is not static; it is shaped by agency, consensus, and vision.

 

The time has come for West Asian nations to reclaim ownership of their shared future. Through genuine dialogue and regionally inspired frameworks, they can finally break the cycle of repeated conflict and move toward a horizon built on dignity, resilience, and peace.

 

Security Challenges Are Shared—And Require Shared Responses

Iran believes the region’s security challenges are interconnected and inherently shared among its nations—whether it be terrorism, climate-induced migration, cyber threats, or economic fragility. No country can detach itself from the fate of its neighbors. Thus, the formation of a collective framework based on mutual respect, non-intervention, and regional ownership is not optional—it is essential.

 

Regional Security Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

Foreign powers have repeatedly tried to impose top-down security models that disregard West Asia’s sociopolitical intricacies. Historically, few have played a constructive or lasting role in stabilizing the region. In fact, externally designed solutions usually reflect the strategic calculations of distant capitals, not the lived realities of Tehran, Baghdad, Riyadh, or Damascus.

 

Experience shows these approaches at best create fragile peace, and at worst fuel long-term instability. The people of the region have paid the price for policies crafted without their consent or participation.

 

Iran has consistently advocated for inclusive, indigenous mechanisms to address West Asia’s challenges. It has emphasized that regional security must not be seen as a zero-sum game, but as a collaborative endeavor rooted in partnership.

 

Iran firmly believes that no nation can truly prosper while surrounded by war, sanctions, and sectarian strife. Accordingly, it calls for a fundamental shift toward a homegrown, regional-centric model that prioritizes collective development over threat-based frameworks.

 

A New Role for the Persian Gulf

Long seen as a flashpoint in global affairs, the Persian Gulf today holds the potential to become the cornerstone of a new era of de-escalation and convergence. Iran’s commitment to constructive diplomacy in this realm is grounded in its historical initiatives—such as the “Dialogue of Civilizations,” the “World Against Violence and Extremism” (WAVE), and the “Hormuz Peace Endeavor” (HOPE). These frameworks emphasize shared heritage, collective security, and the centrality of dialogue in conflict resolution.

 

In this spirit, Iran welcomes recent developments, including the Gulf Cooperation Council’s 2024 Security Vision Document, which affirms principles like sovereignty, non-intervention, and multilateral cooperation. While differences remain, the document reflects a growing regional recognition of interdependence and the urgent need for a joint security mechanism. Tehran views this as a foundational step toward a coherent regional security order.

 

Real Stability Requires Inclusive Development

Iran’s message to the world remains firm: sustainable peace in West Asia is only achievable through empowering regional stakeholders. Selective security guarantees or peace frameworks used as tools of pressure will not succeed.

 

True stability demands inclusive development, mutual respect, and a commitment to shared prosperity. Iran sees itself not as a hegemonic force but as a strong nation alongside strong neighbors—embedded in a resilient, interwoven fabric of regional cooperation.

 

Examples such as Iraq and Oman highlight the value of homegrown diplomacy. These countries’ mediation efforts have proven that empowered regional actors can resolve disputes and build mutual trust without relying on foreign intermediaries.

 

Iran remains open to international cooperation in areas such as climate resilience, digital infrastructure, public health, and sustainable development—but such cooperation must be based on equality and mutual respect. Conditional partnerships serving political subjugation are incompatible with a regional order based on sovereignty and independence.

 

Regional Integration Is a Necessity, Not a Choice

Environmental degradation, particularly climate change, knows no borders. Dust storms, droughts, and rising temperatures threaten shared ecosystems. Similarly, extremism and humanitarian crises cannot be contained within national boundaries. Confronting these challenges requires transnational coordination—from early warning systems to regional protocols for humanitarian aid.

 

“Human security” must become the cornerstone of any forward-looking regional architecture—where education, health, environmental sustainability, and fair economic opportunities are prioritized alongside traditional security elements.

 

The Zionist Regime Has No Place in a Sustainable Security Architecture

In building a new regional reality, structural obstacles that continue to undermine progress must be addressed. Any honest assessment of regional stability must confront the destabilizing role of the Israeli regime.

 

Its actions have made it a perpetual disruptor—consistently opposing initiatives for collective security and disarmament. Its nuclear weapons program, based on a policy of deliberate ambiguity, undermines global non-proliferation norms and contradicts the shared goal of a nuclear-free Middle East. While all other regional countries have joined treaties like the NPT, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Biological Weapons Convention and adhered to their commitments, Israeli regime remains outside these frameworks, shielded from accountability by its strategic reliance on Western allies. This pattern of impunity continues to block real progress on regional security and global arms control.

 

Moreover, Israeli regime’s historical trajectory reveals a consistent pattern of occupation, forced displacement, aggression, and systematic violations of international law—from genocide and crimes against humanity to the ongoing siege of Gaza, illegal settlements in the West Bank, repeated assaults on Lebanon, and its role in destabilizing Syria.

 

The international community must confront this truth: a regime that systematically violates international law, pursues unchecked militarism, and enjoys effective impunity has no place in any sustainable regional security framework.

 

Iran’s Vision: A Roadmap for Future Resilience

Ultimately, the future of West Asia will not be determined in foreign capitals. It will be shaped by the region’s people—through frameworks that reflect their history, culture, and collective will. If the region is to escape cycles of division, the coming decade must focus on institution-building, cross-border cooperation, and inclusive governance.

 

Iran’s vision serves both as a critique of past failures and as a roadmap for resilient progress. It calls on regional states to move from reactive diplomacy to proactive partnerships, and to reject externally imposed models in favor of flexible, indigenous solutions. It also invites global actors to engage—not as overseers—but as equal and respectful partners.

 

To realize this vision, West Asia must commit to a paradigm where security is shared, sovereignty is mutual, and peace is the product of collective agency. Only within such a framework can the region transition from conflict toward a future founded not on dominance—but on dignity, solidarity, and lasting peace.