KABUL - Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani has called for the creation of another regional security alliance to fight terrorism and invited regional countries including Saudi Arabia to join, a media report has said.
He made the remarks during a security conference launched in Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday where representatives from regional countries had gathered to discuss ways for sustainable security in the region, IRNA reported.
He asked regional countries to form a collision to resolve humanitarian crises in different part of the region, including Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.
Larijani said that instead of engaging in war of attrition, regional countries, such as Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan can begin a movement towards regional tranquility based on Islam, support for the Palestinian people, fight against terrorism and mutual economic interests.
'All these countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, have to know that Iran is neither their enemy, nor is it opposing them to play a major role in the region,' Larijani said.
'We are opposed to war-mongering in Yemen and Syria. However, we openly announce that we respect all Muslim regional countries playing a role in establishment of security in the region and regard it as a useful measure,' he added.
Although it seems that the security confusion in the region is not to come to an end within a short period of time, Iran reaches out to all Muslim countries for finding a settlement to regional conflicts, said the Iranian speaker.
Afghanistan had been suffering from terrorism and extremism over a decade but was not mentioned in the creation of the new security alliance which may be headed by Tehran.
Last year, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of 34-nation Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, a move welcomed by the United States which has been urging a greater regional involvement in the campaign against the militants who control swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.
The states it listed as joining the new coalition included Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and several African nations.
The list did not include Shi'ite Muslim Iran, the arch rival of Sunni Saudi Arabia for influence across the Arab world. Tehran and Riyadh are ranged on opposite sides in proxy conflicts in Syria and Yemen. (Pajhwok)