In his speech on October 26 titled "Comprehensive Security in the Persian Gulf," Dr. Mohammad Taheri stressed that achieving sustainable security in this region is not possible without Iran's participation. These remarks come at a time when recent military developments and insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz have raised the need to reassess the security relations among the countries in the region more than ever.
Oman's Foreign Minister's Proposal for Regional Cooperation
The Foreign Minister of Oman proposed that the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with Iran and Iraq, gather to discuss the future of regional security and facilitate the signing of a non-aggression pact among the eight countries. He recalled the 1976 Oman meeting where the foreign ministers of the eight countries convened to discuss collective security arrangements, noting that reviving that initiative could provide an opportunity for a comprehensive dialogue.
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The Necessity of Interaction and Cooperation Among Regional Countries
An important point in the Omani Foreign Minister's remarks was the emphasis on Iran's position in the security equations of the Persian Gulf. He considered the exclusion of Iran from regional security arrangements as a factor for instability and clarified that the existing differences between Iran and Arab countries do not imply a permanent enmity between them. From the perspective of the Omani Foreign Minister, regional countries must take primary responsibility for their own security and reduce dependence on foreign powers.
This view has been expressed more explicitly by Oman, but it is also observable in some recent positions of Emirati officials. Mohammed bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, emphasized the necessity of supporting diplomatic efforts to maintain regional stability during his conversation with the President of Iran in January this year. Additionally, Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, noted in September that despite criticism of military developments, the geographical reality makes interaction with Iran inevitable.
The experience of the past few decades in the Persian Gulf shows that multiple wars and the extensive presence of foreign powers have failed to create sustainable security acceptable to all countries in the region. Therefore, ensuring the security of the Persian Gulf cannot be defined solely based on the security concerns of one or a few countries.
For Iran, the remarks of the Omani Foreign Minister present an opportunity to reiterate regional security cooperation. Tehran can support the initiation of regular dialogues by welcoming Oman's proposal and utilizing its relations with neighboring countries. These dialogues could gradually allow for addressing more complex disputes as well.
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