TEHRAN - At the Munich Security Conference hosted by the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Institute for Political and International Studies on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said no country can enjoy security at the expense of another country’s insecurity.

“In this region and world no one can have prosperity at the expense of others’ deprivation,” the Iranian foreign minister told the panelists in which many international dignitaries including German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier were present.

The chief Iranian diplomat called “negotiation” the only way to resolve issues.

“Looking back in history, problems are resolved through negotiations; although all wrong options including wars are tried prior to coming to the negotiating table.”

He added, “The West tried sanctions and pressure, prior to coming to the negotiation table with Iran. But Iran kept the negotiation option open which ‘didn’t include war’.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that the region is facing “common problems” and “common threats.”

“And, so Daesh is no asset to anyone.”

“Our neighbors’ security is our security” he said, adding that if Saudi Arabia is threatened it is as if Iran is threated.

On allegations that Iran is a threat to the region, he said Iran has never invaded any country and has never played a role in creating any terrorist groups in the region, but it has been a victim of all terrorist groups.

He then urged all to look to the future and not to the past.

“While we cannot forget the past, we will not remain prisoner of it. We are ready to look forward to resolve all issues.”

“If there is a reason to look to the past, the Iranian people will have all the reasons.”

But Iran lives in a region where it needs a stable environment and neighborhood, he added.


Steinmeier: Iran can play as a ‘responsible partner’

Steinmeier told the panel discussion that Iran can play a constructive role in international and regional affairs as a “responsible partner”.

The top German diplomat referred to Daesh, saying the problem has shown the limitations of diplomacy, but “we have to act diplomatically”.

Steinmeier also said Europe is facing security challenges as well.

He also said there are many questions about Iran's intentions in the region that could be “baseless and unfair”, adding that Iran itself has its own security concerns.

Munich Security Conference

For the first time, Tehran hosted the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Saturday to discuss regional developments in which high ranking officials from 60 countries attended the high profile conference.

Besides Iran’s foreign minister and his German counterpart, there were other participants in the gathering including Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Lebanese Foreign Minister Bassil Gebran, Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah Youssef bin, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Nechirvan Idris Barzani, the United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly Elisabeth Guigou and the Chairman of the German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Norbert Rottgen, as well as governmental representatives from various Arab states, numerous parliamentarians from European countries and NGO representatives.