Iran has strongly criticised a US-led regional security meeting held in Bahrain, insisting that security in the Persian Gulf cannot be dictated by foreign military alliances.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed the dialogue, which brought together senior military officials from 12 countries to discuss security and maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Hormuz is defined under Iran’s command, not CENTCOM,” Gharibabadi said, arguing that “a military summit in Bahrain cannot establish legal order and security for the Persian Gulf.”
He added that lasting regional security would only be achieved through the withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East, respect for the sovereignty of regional states, and recognition of what he described as “new geopolitical realities.”
“The region’s security will be ensured through the end of interventions and the US withdrawal from the area, respect for countries’ sovereignty, and acceptance of new geopolitical realities — not under the military umbrella of America,” he said.
His remarks came after the United States announced that senior military representatives from 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Lebanon and Syria, met in Bahrain to discuss maritime security.
According to the US, participants reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the free flow of international commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes.
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