Araghchi says Middle East needs dialogue, not foreign military presence

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday called for greater reliance on dialogue, cooperation and multilateral institutions. Speaking virtually at Indonesia's Global Town Hall 2026, Araghchi said: "Sustainable security in the Middle East cannot be dictated from outside the region." Araghchi said ignoring international law when it conflicts with the interests of major powers undermines the rule of law, while the failure of international institutions such as the United Nations to respond to aggression and hold violators accountable could damage their credibility. "We believe that sustainable security can be achieved through dialogue, trust-building, cooperation and mutual respect among the countries of the region, not through the military presence of foreign powers and the imposition of their will," he said.