Washington Doing All It Can to Disrupt Dialogue between Iran, Persian Gulf States

"We are interested in Iran and the Arab states [of the Persian Gulf] establishing a normal dialogue, reaching confidence-building agreements, transparency in military affairs and developing cooperating in general. <…> Unfortunately, our American colleagues up, at least the current administration, have been doing their utmost to thwart this dialogue up until now," he said.

According to Lavrov, the Russian proposal to create a security strategy for the Persian Gulf is particularly aimed at developing dialogue between Iran and the Arab states. "It is crucial that no one interfere in this process and take actions aimed at undermining the very efforts to create this dialogue," he underlined.

The United States, especially under the now lame-duck administration of President Donald Trump, has been rallying the regional countries around its extremely anti-Iran approach. The Trump team has been also trying to further its alliance with the regional rulers, who have made a point of distancing their countries from the Islamic Republic, Tass news agency reported.

Washington has also been spearheading a normalization drive between the Israeli regime and some regional Arab states since September. The drive has likewise seen all the involved parties trying to project Iran as their “common enemy.”

Tehran, on the other hand, has changelessly extended a hand of friendship towards its fellow Persian Gulf littoral nations, cautioning them against involving extra-regional states in the region’s security and political affairs.

The government of President Hassan Rouhani has come up with a proposal, dubbed Hormuz Peace Initiative (HOPE), which is so designed to enable reconciliation and further cooperation among all countries of the region.