Yaoundle, September 1 (RHC)-- The director general for International Peace and Security at the Iranian Foreign Ministry says the occupying Israeli regime is the main obstacle to achieving stability and sustainable development in the Muslim world and the West Asia region.

Asadullah Eshraq Jahromi made the remark in an address to the 50th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde on Friday.

Eshraq Jahromi expressed deep concern over the ongoing Israeli atrocities against the oppressed Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip over the past eleven months and roundly denounced the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

He called on the international community and the OIC to adopt a decisive measure aimed at the immediate cessation of Israeli actions, which amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The top Iranian diplomat underlined the need for holding Israel to account for the crimes it is perpetrating in the occupied Palestinian territories and elsewhere in the region.

Eshraq Jahromi emphasized that the root causes of insecurity and tensions in the West Asia region need to be addressed.

“The occupying Zionist regime is the main obstacle to the achievement of stability and sustainable development in the Muslim world and regional countries. The destabilizing actions and policies of the regime are a formidable obstacle to cooperation among Muslim countries as well as regional economic convergence among OIC member states,” he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Eshraq Jahromi pointed to Iran’s geopolitical location in regional and international corridors, stating that the new Iranian administration attaches great importance to increased regional convergence, cooperation and communication besides enhancement of ties with neighbors.

He also highlighted the tremendous potential of Iran’s commercial ports in the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, its extensive rail network, and the high transit capacity of the country to connect to OIC member countries.

Eshraq Jahromi went on to denounce the imposition of economic sanctions, stating that the unilateral coercive measures are in violation of international law as they are disruptive to economic stability and a major impediment to development and access to resources and technology.

The Iranian diplomat finally emphasized the Islamic Republic’s unwavering commitment to expanding economic cooperation with the OIC member states and cooperating with Muslim countries to advance common principles and interests.