West’s policy in region a letdown: Iranian FM

TEHRAN, Jan. 10 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday that the Western military approach to the regional crises has failed.


During a meeting with the visiting Bahraini Parliament Speaker Khalifa Ahmad al-Zahrani, Mottaki pointed to the failed policy of former U.S. president George W. Bush in the region and said some Western officials had the misconception that crises in the region can be resolved through military approaches.


Eight years ago, the U.S. forces entered Afghanistan under the pretext of ensuring security, fighting terrorism or extremism, and eradicating drugs trade but the results have been opposite, he noted.


Insecurity and extremism has spread from some parts of Afghanistan to the whole region and production of illegal drugs has skyrocketed to 9,000 tons per year in Afghanistan, he explained.


He went on to say that problems would affect all nations in the region and called on regional countries to find a regional solution to deal with the crises.


The top diplomat added that the parliaments in the two countries support regional cooperation between Tehran and Manama and this will make the two sides determined to seek ways to solve these problems.


Elsewhere in his remarks, he described Tehran-Manama relations as exemplary, saying the two countries’ parliaments back close and brotherly relationship.


He also called for expansion of cooperation in economy, trade, joint investment, banking, and health.


The Bahraini speaker al-Zahrani also welcomed Mottaki’s views on regional issues particularly developments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East in general, saying Bahrain and Iran share similar views about the crises facing the region.


Al-Zahrani said that the Bahraini parliament supports expansion of ties with Tehran in all areas.