Rouhani to US: Leave Region, Neighbors Not Outsiders Can Ensure Own Security

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that the US has no business and is not welcome in the region and must leave it, stressing that the security of the Gulf can be ensured only by neighbors not outsiders.

“The security of the region is provided through the pull-out of American military forces not by their weapons and intervention. The ultimate way to [achieving] peace and security in the Middle East is ‘democracy inside, diplomacy outside’,” Rouhani said in an address to the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

“Security cannot be bought or provided by foreign governments. Peace, security and independence of our neighbors are that of our own. The US is not our neighbor. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran that is your neighbor … we are neighbors to each other not with the US,” he added.  

Rouhani further lashed out at the US for interfering in the region, which has only fueled insecurity without bringing about any peace for regional countries.

“The United States is neither the advocate nor the guardian of any state. No state delegates power of attorney to other states and does not give custodianship to others,” Rouhani said, adding, “The issues of the region are too big and important for the United States to deal with. A country that has failed to resolve the issues of Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and has been the spearhead of extremism, Talibanism and Daeshism will never be able to resolve more sophisticated issues.”

Rouhani also warned that the Gulf region is "on the edge of collapse, as a single blunder can fuel a big fire."

"We do not tolerate provocative intervention of foreigners and shall firmly respond to any sort of act of aggression against our security and territorial integrity," Rouhani said.

He said that Iran’s security doctrine is that of safeguarding peace and stability in the Gulf and providing security for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.