By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has called on Muslim and West Asian countries to strengthen cooperation and establish a new regional framework, saying recent conflicts showed the need for greater unity among Islamic nations.

Speaking during the 20th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Islamic States in Baku, Ghalibaf held talks with Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova.

During his meeting with Kurtulmuş, Ghalibaf said the June 2025 conflict and the 40-day Ramadan War that began in February offered important lessons for the region. He argued that the conflicts revealed what he described as the central role of Israel in regional instability and demonstrated the limitations of American power.

He said countries in West Asia and across the Islamic world should rely more on their own resources, capabilities and populations when shaping the future of the region. Ghalibaf also described the military campaign against Iran as one of the most intense in recent history, adding that Iran responded firmly and accurately.

The Iranian official praised the resilience of the Iranian people during the conflict and thanked Turkey for condemning what he called the aggression of the United States and Israel. He also welcomed the recent improvement in relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, expressing hope for stronger ties in the future.

However, Kurtulmuş reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Iran and said the war against the Islamic Republic lacked legal justification under international law. He also expressed condolences over the deaths of Iranian civilians and stressed that the situations in Gaza and Lebanon should not be overlooked.

In discussions with Gafarova, Ghalibaf said some countries had allowed their territory and airspace to be used during military operations against Iran, urging regional governments to learn from the experience. Gafarova responded by reaffirming Azerbaijan’s commitment to friendly relations with neighbouring countries and stated that Azerbaijani territory would not be used against Iran or any other neighbour.

The remarks came days after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 aimed at ending the conflict. Although hostilities have largely ceased and some restrictions on Iran have been eased, continued Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have raised concerns about the durability of the ceasefire.

Source: Mehr News