‘US regional withdrawal presents opportunity to bolster Islamic fraternity’, cleric

The Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought has described the anticipated withdrawal of US forces from the region as a strategic opportunity to strengthen fraternal ties and promote reconciliation with neighboring states.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hujjat-ul-Islam Hamid Shahriari noted that Persian Gulf states are currently weighing their options between cooperation with Iran or normalization of ties with Israel.

The cleric urged Iranian officials to utilize diplomatic channels to enhance relations with neighboring countries and to proactively prevent the normalization of relations with the Israeli regime.

Concluding his message, Shahriari stressed that Iran’s future is inextricably linked to that of its neighbors, asserting that the US exit provides a unique window to boost Islamic fraternity and restore fraternal bonds.

These remarks follow recent developments regarding the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. They also follow a statement by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, who asserted that the United States would be forced to exit West Asia after suffering “painful blows.”

In a message marking the Sacred Defense Week in Iran, the Leader stated: “Today, having suffered painful blows at the hands of valiant fighters and the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz, they [the enemies] do not venture beyond the Arabian Sea.”