According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency (Tasnim) and Reuters local time on June 3, Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani revealed on the 2nd that Iran and Saudi Arabia will work with several other Gulf countries to form a new naval alliance, including India and Pakistan, with the aim of maintaining regional stability.
According to reports, Ilani announced the news on a TV program on the evening of June 2, local time, and this "new naval alliance" will include Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, India and Pakistan.
Screenshot of Iran's Tasnim News Agency
Almost all coastal states located in the northern Indian Ocean region have concluded that they need to stand with Iran and work together to ensure regional security, and while Iran and Oman have held several joint naval exercises in the past, other countries are now eager for collective naval cooperation.
"Today, regional countries have recognized that building security in the region requires synergy." Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that Ilani also confirmed that the UAE had previously withdrawn from the United States-led multinational joint mechanism on maritime security in the Middle East, the Joint Sea Force (CMF).
According to previous reports by the Emirates News Agency, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on May 31 local time, saying: "After continuing to assess effective security cooperation with all partners, the UAE withdrew from its participation in the 'Joint Sea Forces' two months ago." The statement added that the UAE is committed to maintaining the safety of navigation in the maritime areas in accordance with international law.
Screenshot of the UAE News Agency report
Established in 2001, United Sea Force is a multinational joint U.S.-led mechanism with 38 member states headquartered in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet Command. The objective of the mechanism is to maintain the safety of shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf region, and it is mainly engaged in anti-narcotics, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy activities. Last week, Joint Sea Forces created a new task force to train the navies of the "partner nations."
Speaking about the "New Naval Alliance", Ilani also mentioned the joint naval exercises of the three countries held by Iran, China and Russia, and said that this exercise is also under development and will be held annually. He said the region would soon be free from any intervention by "illegal forces" and that the safety of its people would be protected by the military of the countries in the region.
Reuters mentioned that recently, tensions between Iran and a number of Gulf Arab countries are easing.
On March 10 this year, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the "old enemies" in the Middle East, agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations under the mediation of China. On April 6, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran met in Beijing and signed a joint statement, announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations from now on. In addition, diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria, which had previously fallen to freezing point, are also expected to "thaw", and a "wave of reconciliation" will emerge in the Middle East.
Picture from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
According to Iranian media reports, on June 2, local time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan held a bilateral meeting in South Africa during the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting and held consultations and discussions on bilateral issues.
During the meeting, the Saudi Foreign Minister noted that Saudi Arabia and Iran are moving towards a new stage of development between the two countries, which is in the common interests of both countries and the entire region. He said he would visit Iran soon.
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