Iran Press/ America: In response to accusations that several countries in the region accusing Iran, Majid Takhtorvanchi said at a UN Security Council virtual meeting: "The Islamic Republic of Iran has played a crucial role in ensuring energy security, trade and stability in the Persian Gulf region," and will continue to promote peace and security in this critical region.
At the meeting, Takhtarvanchi called on the countries of the region to resolve their differences through dialogue.
He added that the first and most important priority of the countries in the region should be to build mutual trust and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighbors. While the countries of the region should not interfere in the internal affairs of their neighbors, the Iranian envoy stressed promoting cooperation on equal terms to create a better and safer region.
Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations went on to stress that security must come from within and cannot be bought from outside of the region.
"Countries in the West Asian region that spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on advanced weapons need to know that huge military expenditure creates neither long-term legitimacy nor security," Takht-Ravanchi said.
"Takht-Ravanchi" also referred to Iran's missile defense program and said: "Iran's defense requirements, such as the missile program, are rooted in geostrategic calculations and considerable historical experience."
Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations referred to the eight-year invasion of Iran by the Ba'athist regime of Iraq, which was carried out with the special support of the United States and a number of GCC member states.
He added that during the war imposed by the Ba'athist regime in Iraq against Iran, Iranian cities were hit by Iraqi rockets and the Iranian people fell victim to chemical and other deadly weapons, mostly provided to Saddam by Western countries.
Takht-Ravanchi also referred to the claim made about the Iranian islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, stating that these three islands are Iranian and will remain Iranian forever, emphasizing Iran's sovereignty over these Persian Gulf islands.
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