Rouhani Invites Regional States to Join ‘Hope’ Coalition

EghtesadOnline: President Hassan Rouhani has called on regional states to join the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (Hope), a security coalition proposed by Iran for defusing tension in the Persian Gulf.

News ID: ۷۴۸۵۵۴

28 September 2019

Rouhani was addressing world leaders attending the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday.

According to the Iranian president, the US government, while imposing extraterritorial sanctions and threatening other nations, has made a lot of efforts to isolate Iran from the global economy and resorted to piracy by misusing the international banking system, Financial Tribune reported.

Rouhani said, “The attitude of the incumbent US government toward the nuclear deal or the JCPOA not only violates the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, but also constitutes a breach of the sovereignty and political and economic independence of all countries.”

US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

“It is now an established fact that the US has turned its back to its commitments and Europe is unable to fulfill its undertakings,” the Iranian president said.

“I declare, on behalf of my nation and country, that our response to negotiation under sanction is a ‘No’. I state very clearly that if you are satisfied with minimums, we will also suffice with minimums. JCPOA was the minimum, both for you and us.”

Hormuz Peace Endeavour

According to President Rouhani, the security doctrine of Iran is based on maintaining peace and stability in the Persian Gulf and providing freedom of navigation and safety of movement in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Recent incidents have seriously endangered this security. Security and peace in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz could be ensured with the participation of regional countries,” he said.

Introducing Iran’s new initiative for the establishment of peace and security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Rouhani said, “I would like to invite all the countries directly affected by developments in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to the “Coalition for Hope”, that is, the Hormuz Peace Endeavour.”

The president noted that the goal of “Coalition for Hope” is to ensure peace, stability, progress and welfare for all the residents of the Strait of Hormuz region and to enhance mutual understanding and peaceful and friendly relations among them.

“This initiative includes various avenues of cooperation, such as the collective guarantee of energy security, freedom of navigation and free flow of oil and other resources to and from the Strait of Hormuz and beyond,” he said.

Rouhani stressed that the presence of the United Nations is necessary for the creation of an international umbrella in support of the “Coalition for Hope”.

He said that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will announce further details about the Hormuz Peace Endeavor.

“The formation of any security coalition and initiative under any title in the region with the centrality and command of foreign forces is a clear example of interference in the affairs of the region,” he said.

The Iranian president concluded by saying, “Our region is on the edge of collapse, as a single blunder can spark a conflagration. We shall not tolerate the provocative interference of foreigners. We shall respond decisively and strongly to any transgression to and violation of our security and territorial integrity.”