Iran calls for regional military alliance excluding US and Israel

Iran urged Middle Eastern countries Wednesday to form a "security and military alliance" that explicitly excludes the United States and Israel, calling for regional self-reliance in the face of ongoing hostilities. The proposal comes as the conflict enters its fifth week.

Call for self-reliance

"The time has come to establish a security alliance without the presence of the United States and Israel," Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a video message addressed to the Arab and Islamic world. He described US and Israeli aggression against Iran as reflecting a "new phase" and said Iran stands at the forefront of defending the Islamic nation. Zolfaghari emphasized that regional countries do not need distant nations to ensure their security.

Islamic framework proposed

"We must unite to guarantee our security and move towards a collective security charter based on Islam and the Quran as a reference, core and solid foundation," the spokesman said. The proposal seeks to create an alternative security architecture for the region that would sideline Washington and Tel Aviv, which have historically played dominant roles in Gulf security arrangements.

Regional context

The appeal comes amid sustained hostilities following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began Feb. 28, which have killed more than 1,340 people including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Tehran's call for an alliance reflects its broader strategy of rallying regional partners against what it frames as foreign intervention.