Iranian official Qaempanah says regional countries should take charge of their own security

Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah, Iran's Vice President for Executive Affairs, said regional countries should take charge of their own security, according to IRNA.

Qaempanah said the US presence in the region is not constructive, and emphasized that the region's destiny must be shaped and developed by the countries of the region themselves.

Call for regional ownership

The comments reflect a position frequently voiced by Iranian officials that security arrangements in the region should be determined by regional states rather than outside powers.

Qaempanah's remarks frame continued US presence as an obstacle to what he described as a more constructive path forward, one in which regional countries take primary responsibility for their own security architecture.

No further details were given on specific mechanisms or proposals for regional countries to take on this greater role, with the statement centered on the broader principle of regional self-determination in security matters.

The remarks come as part of ongoing statements from Iranian officials on regional security dynamics, a subject that continues to feature prominently in Tehran's public diplomacy.