Rouhani says Iran to present ‘Gulf security plan’ to UN
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that
Iran would present to the UN a regional cooperation plan for peace.
He added that the presence of foreign forces creates
“insecurity” in the Gulf, after the US ordered the deployment of more troops to
the region.
“Foreign forces can cause problems and insecurity
for our people and for our region,” Rouhani said in a televised speech at an
annual military parade.
Tensions escalated between Iran and the United
States after devastating September 14 attacks on Saudi oil installations that
Washington and Riyadh have blamed on Tehran.
Following the attacks, the United States announced
on Friday that it was sending reinforcements to Saudi Arabia at “the kingdom’s
request.”
In his speech on Sunday, Rouhani called on the foreign
powers in the Gulf region to “stay away.”
“If they’re sincere, then they should not make our
region the site of an arms race,” he said.
“Your presence has always brought pain and misery
for the region. The farther you keep yourselves from our region and our
nations, the more security there will be for our region.”
Rouhani said Iran would present a plan for peace to
the United Nations in the coming days.
“In this sensitive and important historical moment,
we announce to our neighbors, that we extend the hand of friendship and
brotherhood to them,” he said.
