Recently, in the meeting and discussion that Hossein Amir Abdollahian had on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, once again he emphasized the idea proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran to form a dialogue and cooperation assembly among the eight countries in the north and the south of the Persian Gulf.

This issue shows the “strategic importance” of interaction and strengthening intra-regional mechanisms using multilateral and bilateral diplomacy with the Islamic Republic of Iran. But what is the necessity for forming an assembly for dialogue and cooperation with the participation of Persian Gulf countries, and what are the importance and consequences of such an assembly?

First, in the current international system, unlike the previous decades and despite the emphasis on globalism in the United Nations Charter, “regionalism” has become more important; therefore, “regional organizations” have a special place in global equations.

Second, the existence of “occasional tensions” among the countries of the region, especially in the Persian Gulf, which causes a fragile atmosphere, instability, insecurity, and crisis, is one of the important issues that the formation of an assembly for dialogue and cooperation with the participation of all the countries of the Persian Gulf can prevent its emergence and become critical.

The experience of the past decades has shown the lack of a “comprehensive institution or mechanism” for dialogue and interaction in the Persian Gulf region, which is considered one of the most important regions of the world and has long been coveted by major and international powers and extra-regional destructive players, is one of the main factors in the occurrence and continuation of bilateral and multilateral crises among the countries of the region.

Within this framework, dialogue and cooperation assembly can influence “resolving conflicts” in the Persian Gulf and establish order, stability, and “sustainable security” in member countries. At the same time, it can act as a reference for resolving tension-causing lawsuits and disputes.

Third, benefiting from the unique political, economic, transitory, scientific, etc. opportunities resulting from interaction and cooperation in the form of an inclusive intra-regional mechanism in the Persian Gulf is another issue that necessitates the formation of a dialogue and cooperation assembly with the participation of all the Persian Gulf countries.

However, some components among the Persian Gulf countries act as “drivers” for the formation of dialogue and cooperation assembly, which should not be underestimated. Religious, historical, and cultural ties, common economic and commercial interests, facing common threats, enjoying a common destiny, deep-rooted ideological and cultural harmony, as well as expanding the atmosphere of empathy on the one hand, and the mistrust of regional nations on the other hand towards the presence and interventions of extra-regional powers, is one of the important and effective drivers in this field.

Of course, it goes without saying that so far, some factors have prevented the formation of such a comprehensive regional mechanism which, in this context, we can point to political conflicts and differences and the destructive role of some extra-regional players, including the United States, Britain, and the Zionist regime, in the relations of the Persian Gulf countries.

But here, there is an important point: forming a dialogue and cooperation assembly does not mean complete convergence among the Persian Gulf countries. Because in today’s world and due to the chaotic nature of the international system and the natural conflicts that exist between the national, regional, and international interests of different countries, complete convergence is impossible, even in countries that are cooperating within a coherent organization or coalition with economic, political, security nature and so on, do not make such a claim. But in any case, the existence of such a mechanism can play an effective role in spreading and institutionalizing understanding and dialogue instead of tension and conflict among the Persian Gulf countries.

Of course, before this and in the month of Mehr 1398 (September/October 2019), the Islamic Republic of Iran proposed a plan for peace and strengthening Hormuz cooperation in the direction of establishing peace between the coastal countries of the Persian Gulf, which did not receive the necessary welcome from some countries in the southern part of the Persian Gulf, which was mainly due to the particular situation in that period including the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), intensification of pressures against Iran, increase in the level of tension in the region, internal differences between some Arab countries, etc.

The assembly of dialogue and cooperation is emphasized today in a situation where the region has witnessed important developments. Among other things, the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia and some littoral countries of the Persian Gulf, which were tense before, are improving. The region’s countries have come to the understanding that the only solution to achieving peace and security in the region and ensuring optimal benefits is interaction and cooperation and solving problems and disputes through dialogue.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran, along with the policy of looking to the East, as well as improving and upgrading the level of relations and cooperation with Russia, China, and India and membership in the Shanghai and BRICS organizations and other Eastern and regional institutions, also has a strategic and special look at its southern neighbors on the edge of the Persian Gulf. Those countries are not supposed to be on the sideline.