Qalibaf hails Islamabad MoU as ‘declaration of US defeat’
Iran’s parliament speaker says agreement reflects success of resistance over pressure, calls for regional security led by regional states, and urges greater unity among Muslim nations
BAKU, Azerbaijan (MNTV) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Wednesday described the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as “a declaration of America’s defeat,” saying the agreement was achieved through Iran’s resistance and national resolve rather than external pressure.
Speaking at the 20th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC) in Baku, Qalibaf said the memorandum demonstrated that dialogue can succeed when the opposing side abandons attempts to impose its will on a sovereign nation and recognizes its rights.
“The Islamabad memorandum of understanding became a declaration of America’s defeat,” Qalibaf told delegates.
He said the resistance of Iran’s armed forces and the steadfastness of its people imposed significant costs on the United States and Israel, describing the conflict as more than a military confrontation.
According to Qalibaf, the war represented “an organized effort to change regional strategic balances and impose will upon a free nation.”
He said the Iranian people had shown that the era of imposing the will of powerful states on independent nations had come to an end “… and you saw how the world admired this perseverance and victory”.
Qalibaf argued that lasting peace is achieved through “dignity, power and respect,” rather than coercion and submission. While acknowledging the costs of war, he said the conflict demonstrated that resistance and public resilience can disrupt the calculations of aggressors even under difficult circumstances.
He reiterated that the Islamabad agreement showed dialogue could produce results when conducted on the basis of mutual respect and recognition of rights.
The Iranian parliament speaker also called for regional security arrangements to be led by countries within the region, saying no state could achieve security through the insecurity of its neighbors.
“The future of the region is not in confrontation but in interaction; not in elimination but in coexistence; not in imported security but in indigenous and shared security,” he said.
Qalibaf reaffirmed Tehran’s readiness to expand cooperation with Islamic countries based on mutual respect, noninterference and good-neighborly relations. He also voiced support for practical initiatives aimed at strengthening joint economic, trade and security mechanisms among Muslim nations.
Addressing the Palestinian issue, he said no sustainable security framework in West Asia could be established without a just resolution of the conflict.
“Peace built on injustice will have fragile stability,” he said, describing support for Palestinian rights as both a moral obligation and a prerequisite for regional stability.
The conference is being held under the theme “Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in OIC Member States through Parliamentary Cooperation” and has brought together parliament speakers, lawmakers and senior delegations from across the Islamic world.
Earlier Wednesday, upon arriving in Baku, Qalibaf met with Azerbaijani Deputy Speaker Musa Gasimli and expressed hope that the PUIC summit would strengthen solidarity and coordination among Muslim countries amid ongoing regional developments.
Gasimli said Azerbaijan opposed war in neighboring countries and stressed the importance of good-neighborly relations for regional prosperity and development.
“If something happens in a neighbor’s house, neighboring countries will not enjoy peace either,” he said.
He also highlighted expanding economic and parliamentary cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan and reiterated that Azerbaijani territory would not be used to threaten neighboring states.
Before departing for Baku, Qalibaf described the summit as an opportunity to discuss major regional developments and their consequences with parliamentary leaders from across the Islamic world. He said recent events had demonstrated that external powers were unable to provide lasting security for the region.
“After the Ramadan War, it became clear that foreign forces that have come from thousands of kilometers away are unable to establish security and have themselves become a source of instability,” he said.
Qalibaf added that his visit would also include discussions on bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
