Promoting Hormuz Peace Initiative in Kuwait

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled to Kuwait on Thursday to elaborate on the Hormuz peace initiative introduced by President Hassan Rouhani during the United Nations General Assembly in September as a solution to regional problems. 
In a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Khaled al-Jarallah, Araqchi said Persian Gulf countries can shape a bright future for the region by using their huge potentials and capabilities, ISNA reported. 
"Iran believes in collective effort by regional countries to ensure security and sees dialogue as the only solution to foster this collaboration and overcome difficulties," Araqchi said. 
The already volatile Persian Gulf region has been experiencing heightened tensions in recent months, with several attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz in May as well as an assault on Saudi oil facilities in September. 
While foreign countries, including the United States and Europe, have begun to set up their security missions with the purported objective of protecting ships in the strategic waters, Iran has proposed its own alternative for peace, which hinges security on the cooperation of regional countries alone.  
The Hormuz Peace Endeavor invites all Persian Gulf states, and the United Nations, to work together to establish peace without the interference of foreign countries. 
"This initiative provides a useful framework for regional countries to promote peace and stability, and improve bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Araqchi said. 
The Iranian deputy minister stressed that a "constructive and positive response" to the plan by regional countries would be a major step toward reducing tensions and expressed Iran's readiness to engage in joint efforts to find mechanisms for its implementation. 
Pointing to the Yemeni crisis, Araqchi noted that a political approach involving negotiation between the opposing Yemeni parties is the only way to end conflicts in the war-torn country. 
A civil war has been going on in Yemen between the Iran-aligned Houthi fighters and the Saudi-led coalition that carries out airstrikes as well as an economic embargo to reinstate the ousted president, Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi. 
The Kuwaiti diplomat agreed to continuing consultations between the two countries and called for expansion of bilateral ties. 
Jarallah highlighted the determination of member states of the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council to reduce tensions, stressing that dialogue is the only solution to regional issues.