Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has asserted that the recent 40-day war has fundamentally changed the regional perception of security, highlighting that foreign military presence is a liability rather than a guarantee of safety.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, in an interview with the Iranian Vice Presidency for Communications published on Tuesday, Araghchi explained how the war exposed the critical flaws in relying on external powers for protection. He emphasized that this has paved the way for a new era of collective security in the Persian Gulf. Araghchi stated, "In the previous view, there was a reliance on foreign forces to provide security. But the recent war showed that foreign forces and foreign bases not only failed to bring security, but actually became sources of insecurity."

Araghchi noted that nations without U.S. military installations were significantly safer and less impacted by the war. He argued that these installations ultimately served to protect the Zionist regime rather than their host nations. He emphasized that a more accurate understanding has emerged among regional countries, asserting that security in the Persian Gulf must be collective and must include economic dimensions. "It is impossible to achieve permanent peace with economic imbalances among regional countries, just as it is impossible to achieve sustainable, collective security amidst regional insecurity and imbalance," he said.

Araghchi also mentioned that with new perspectives forming, Iran has resumed diplomatic contacts with regional nations. He highlighted Qatar's significant role, saying, "One of these countries I must mention is Qatar, which explicitly and formally entered into mediation between us and the United States, playing a very important role alongside Pakistan." He expressed optimism that Iran's future relationships in the Persian Gulf will be positive, leading to a new era of cooperation that benefits all countries and peoples in the region.