Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says lasting security and peace in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the strategic Strait of Hormuz could be established only through cooperation among regional states.
Speaking in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Tuesday, Rouhani described establishment of regional peace and stability, in addition to freedom of movement and security of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as among Tehran’s principled policies.
The Iranian president then termed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as an efficient and successful model of multilateral diplomacy in resolving international issues.
Rouhani stressed that the success of the JCPOA hinges upon full fulfillment of the remaining signatories to it and the support of all states for its implementation, calling Moscow's role in this regard as important.
He then referred to the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, saying the Iranian initiative is meant to promote peace, stability, prosperity, mutual understanding as well as cordial ties among all people bordering the Strait of Hormuz.
“This plan embraces various areas of cooperation, including collective energy security, freedom of navigation and free transport of crude oil, among countries on the Strait of Hormuz and trans-regional states,” Rouhani highlighted.
Putin, for his part, reaffirmed Russia’s support for the JCPOA and stated that Moscow is doing its utmost to ensure that the remaining parties to the nuclear agreement are fully honoring their obligations.
Tensions have been running high between Iran and the United States since May 2018, when US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew his country from the JCPOA, and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Since quitting the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, Trump has been running a "maximum pressure" campaign to force Iran into negotiating a new deal that addresses its ballistic missile program and regional influence.
Iran, which had been fully complying with all of its commitments despite the US withdrawal and the Europeans’ failure to abide by their obligations under the deal, began scaling down its commitments in early July.
Putin also welcomed the start of Iran's official cooperation in the EAEU, saying it would pave the ground for further regional integration and development.