FM Zarif: Tehran welcomes Russia's concept for Persian Gulf security

Sputnik
Mon, 02 Sep 2019 15:47 UTC

© Bria Webb/Reuters

Iranian FM Javad Zarif

Iran welcomes Russia's initiative on Persian Gulf security and is ready to sign a non-aggression pact with its neighbours, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday after talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

"As for the Persian Gulf security, our stand is really close to the Russian stand. I believe security can be ensured through cooperation and synergy, not resilience ... We have heard [taken note of] Russia's initiative for regional security. We welcome the initiative ... We are also ready to sign a relevant agreement, a non-aggression pact with our neighbours in the Persian Gulf. So, we welcome Russia's concept ... and encourage our Russian friends to move further on the matter."

In response, the Russian diplomat stressed that both Moscow and Tehran are interested in seeing Persian Gulf countries agree on mutually acceptable ways to stabilise the situation in the region. Describing Iranian and Russian initiatives on the matter, Lavrov said:

"Both we and the Islamic Republic of Iran are interested in seeing all the sides, all the countries, all the coastal nations of the Persian Gulf and their international partners, agree on mutually acceptable ways to ensure security in this region, which is the world's top-important region."

The Russian Foreign Ministry unveiled in late July, amid US-Iranian tensions in the region, the Collective Security Concept for the Persian Gulf Region, proposing a "renouncement of permanent deployment of troops of extra-regional states" in the Gulf. The concept promotes multilateralism as the core of the new security system in the region.

Relations between Washington and Tehran have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear agreement, last spring and re-instated sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

A year after that, Iran responded by suspending some obligations under the accord and vowed to proceed with abandoning commitments under the treaty every 60 days.

In the meantime, the US also deployed additional troops near Iranian borders and created a maritime coalition to escort ships near Strait of Hormuz.

Comment: From RT: 2/9/2019: UK mulls drone deployment to Gulf

Britain is considering sending unmanned aircraft to the Persian Gulf, according to reports. The drones would aid military patrols in the region purportedly aimed at protecting British vessels from Iranian naval forces.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has a number of Reaper drones stationed in Kuwait, which are currently participating in missions over Iraq and Syria. These aircraft could soon be re-assigned to provide surveillance as tankers are escorted by the British Navy through the Strait of Hormuz, Sky News reported.

A senior British naval officer told the outlet that Britain believes Tehran poses a threat to merchant vessels. "The direct threat to those British merchant vessels still stands. We've seen nothing to suggest that Iran is going to abide by its international obligations," Commodore Dean Bassett said.