Tehran Dialogue Forum Opens to Discuss Regional, Int’l Issues

The third round of the Tehran Dialogue Forum started in Tehran on Monday to review the latest developments in the region and the world. 
Around 70 political officials, thinkers and researchers from 36 countries attended this year’s event, which is themed “Iran’s neighborliness, a pathway to friendship and confidence building,” according to ISNA. 
Iranian heads of think tanks and foreign ambassadors are also among other participants of the forum. 
During four discussion panels, the attendants delve into the latest developments in West Asia, security in the Persian Gulf, regional connections and energy security, the Ukraine crisis and its regional and international ramifications, and the prospects of peace under an inclusive government in Afghanistan. 
Addressing the opening ceremony, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian highlighted the theme of this year’s forum, saying it aims to remind that the Islamic Republic has put neighborliness at the center of its foreign policy and moves with all its power toward confidence building and promoting friendship with neighboring countries. 
“In West Asia, … we see our neighbors, with whom we share similar civilization, history, culture and religion, as our brothers, and we see their security and welfare as ours,” he said. 
Iran has always expressed readiness to build confidence and cooperate at all levels with neighbors, including those at the Persian Gulf, so that the notion of “ensuring security from outside the region” would go away once and for all to allow cooperation of regional countries to bring about sustainable security, the minister noted. 
Along this line, Iran is prepared to hold a joint meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Iran, Persian Gulf littoral states and other neighbors, he added. 
Amir-Abdollahian also stressed that Iran has always been a pillar of security and stability in the region and has stood at the forefront of the fight against all sorts of terrorism across the region and the world.

Destabilizing Action

The foreign minister later referred to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, reiterating Iran’s unchanging position against war and support for a political solution of differences. 
He once again rejected as groundless the accusations about Iran’s supply of weapons to Russia. 
“While billions of dollars’ worth of all types of arms have entered Ukraine from western countries for the continuation of war, commotion about Iran’s delivery of drones has no other purpose than to cover up the West’s process of fueling the flames of war and violence in Ukraine,” he said. 
In addition, Amir-Abdollahian underlined that Iran’s domestic developments should not be exploited by other countries as a means for settlement of political conflicts. 
Iranian cities have seen unrest since the death of a young girl in police custody in September, which later developed into violent clashes between rioters and security forces. 
Tehran blames western countries for abusing people’s peaceful demands to induce violence. 
Amir-Abdollahian censured the United States and certain other western countries for their “irresponsible interventions” and for their all-out efforts to destabilize the country by provoking riots via political tools and a hybrid war. 
“Iran has warned all interfering countries against any intervention in its domestic affairs, keeps monitoring any such illegitimate action and will strongly respond to it,” he said. 
While attempting to destabilize Iran, the US is also seeking to reach an agreement with Iran on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal that it abandoned four years ago to reimpose tough sanctions on Tehran. 
Iran responded to the US sanctions by rowing back on its commitments and negotiations in Vienna, Austria, aim to work out how both sides can resume compliance. 
The talks, however, have been stalled for months over final differences. 
Amir-Abdollahian said if the US stops its hypocritical behavior and adopts a practical course of return to its commitments, Iran would do the same. 
“We are exchanging messages and holding consultations with the European Union coordinator,” he said. 
The deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency also had constructive talks with Iranian nuclear officials on Sunday, according to the minister. 
The meeting was aimed at discussing the outstanding safeguards issues that have been an area of conflict in Vienna talks. 
Amir-Abdollahian later voiced dismay about China’s signing of a joint statement with Persian Gulf states that involved phrases about three islands of Iran claimed by the United Arab Emirates. 
Iran has expressed its disapproval via diplomatic channels, according to him.