Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said the United States interests are “incompatible” with Iran’s in the region.
He also slammed the “maximum pressure” campaign adopted by the administration of former US president Donald Trump.
Raisi’s remarks were made in his address to the Economic Cooperation Organization’s (ECO) summit, which was held in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on Sunday.
“By withdrawing from the nuclear deal, imposing unilateral sanctions and establishing the policy of maximum pressure, the US proved that its interests are incompatible with our collective interests in the region,” Raisi stressed.
Raisi downplayed the effects of the US sanctions on Tehran’s economic ties with neighboring countries, expressing unconditional support for the organization.
The US sanctions won’t undermine “Tehran’s determination to proceed with its policy of maximum interaction with the neighbors and regional states,” ISNA quoted him as saying.
Upon his arrival in Ashgabat, Raisi headed to Iran’s embassy there and addressed the Iranian community.
“We seek to bolster ties with all countries, especially neighboring and regional states,” he said.
He touched on two main issues, namely the activation of a corridor for trade exchange and addressing water issues among countries of the region.
Raisi underscored the importance of establishing a transportation network among regional countries to revive their economies.
“Corridors of the ECO region must be reopened sooner or later,” he said.
Raisi did not mention the disputes Iran has with some ECO member states.
Iran has long criticized Turkey’s construction of the Ilisu dam on the Tigris River. It monitors the impact of water projects in eastern Turkey on the Aras River bordering Iran and Azerbaijan.
Also, disputes between Iran and Afghanistan over the “right to water” from the Helmand River have recently worsened.