Iranian FM Zarif asks regional states to exclude West from regional talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has advised the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region to think about excluding the West from regional talks, stating that the U.S. and European powers are the causes of problems in West Asia.

“Dear neighbors, why ask US/E3 for inclusion in talks with Iran when: a) There won't be ANY talks about OUR region with them as they're the problem themselves. b) We can speak directly about our region without outside meddling,” Zarif tweeted on Tuesday.

He also said that “Hormuz Peace Endeavor (#HOPE) is still on the table.”

Zarif also published a similar tweet in Arabic earlier in the day.

“We are always ready for talks with our neighbors. The proposals, such as the 1986 regional security, the 2016 regional dialogue forum and the 2019 Hormuz Peace Initiative, show this,” the chief diplomat remarked.

The comments came days after Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud announced that the Persian Gulf countries must be “consulted” before the US restores the historic Iran nuclear deal under the incoming administration of Joe Biden.

“Primarily what we expect is that we are fully consulted, that we and our other regional friends are fully consulted in what goes on vis-à-vis the negotiations with Iran,” he told AFP on the sidelines of a security conference in Bahrain’s Manama on Saturday.

The Saudi foreign minister remarked that such consultation would be the sole path towards a “sustainable” agreement.

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