Iran President rejects US role as Middle East ‘policeman’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on the sidelines of a BRICS summit in India that the Middle East does not require the United States to act as a ‘regional policeman’. Speaking during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Pezeshkian asserted that the security and territorial integrity of the region should be guaranteed by its own primary actors and constituent nations.

The comments come amid an ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States. Following US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader on February 28, Iran has engaged in regional retaliatory strikes and a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic waterway, which previously facilitated one-fifth of global oil transit, is currently a site of contention as Iran and the US vie for control.

Iran now requires vessels to obtain permission for transit and is considering implementing service fees. Non-compliant ships have faced Iranian strikes, while the US has conducted periodic bombings of the Iranian coastline. The ongoing blockade has contributed to rising energy costs, with oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel this week. Pezeshkian noted that while the Iranian people face injustices, peace remains a priority and the country does not desire the continuation of war.