TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states to work towards a unified and sustainable regional security framework that supports stability and economic growth.
Speaking at the 4th ECO Ministerial Meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, Mr. Pezeshkian explained that the organization is the result of decades of common efforts, synergies and economic cooperation between member states. “The region’s economic success depends on establishing a strong, predictable and resilient framework,” he said, urging countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus, South Asia, West Asia and the Persian Gulf to adopt coherent, self-reliant and development-oriented security structures.
Founded in 1985 by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, the ECO now includes Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and serves as an important platform for regional economic integration. Calling the region a “valuable platform for dialogue, sharing of experiences and cooperation across all sectors,” Mr. Pezeshkian stressed that the creation of ECOPOL, a regional police cooperation mechanism, is still incomplete, noting that the ECO region is “one of the few regions in the world without an integrated police force.” He added that this absence has exposed internal vulnerabilities and limited cooperation with other regional and international police organizations.
Regarding broader regional security, Pezeshkian warned that foreign interference has affected the region for many years, calling the recent invasion “the largest foreign intervention in modern history.” He also referred to Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestine, calling it “the greatest occupation of this century” that has lasted nearly 80 years. “Over the past two years, West Asia and Gaza have witnessed some of the most heinous genocide and crimes against humanity at the hands of occupying regimes,” he said, warning that international extremists and norm-breakers continue to seek influence in the region.
Iran’s interior minister calls for collective response to common threat
Echoing the President’s remarks, Interior Minister Momeni emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation within the ECO to address security, political and economic challenges. He cited the US and Israeli aggression against Iran, including the 12-day war, which he said strengthened national unity and demonstrated the resilience of the Iranian people and military. Stressing that Iran has never started a war, Momeni affirmed his country’s determination to resist any aggression with unity and full force.
Mr. Momeni also highlighted common threats in the region, including terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, drug and human trafficking, illegal immigration, arms smuggling and money laundering. He said these challenges impose significant costs on ECO Member States and highlight the need for increased multilateral cooperation, including the establishment of a joint ECO security framework.
Referring to humanitarian issues, Momeni noted that Iran has been hosting refugees for more than 45 years and currently shelters the world’s largest population of displaced persons, mainly Afghans. Despite U.S. sanctions, Iran has provided refugees with living conditions, medical care, and education on par with Iranian citizens, based on humanitarian values and Islamic principles.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of city diplomacy and local government cooperation, and proposed the “ECO Smart City” project among member states as an innovative strategy to improve urban services, transportation, environmental protection and overall quality of life. He emphasized the need to promote cross-border travel and trade and proposed the ECO visa system and mutual recognition of driving licenses under the label “ECO DP”.
Mr. Momeni stressed the importance of joint border management and real-time information exchange using advanced technology to prevent illegal migration, human trafficking and terrorist activities. He added that ECOPOL is essential to combating transnational crime and ensuring regional security. He also highlighted the need for coordinated disaster management, citing earthquakes, floods and drought as challenges that require multilateral preparedness and resource sharing.
ECO Secretary General praises Iran’s leadership
Asad Majid Khan, Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), praised Iran for hosting the ECO Interior Ministers’ Meeting, saying the meeting reflected the region’s interest in establishing law, order and crime prevention mechanisms.
In a joint press conference with Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni on the sidelines of the 4th ECO Interior Ministers’ Meeting, Foreign Minister Majid Khan expressed his gratitude for Iran’s cooperation with the ECO Secretariat and the ECO Secretariat’s role in hosting this historic ministerial meeting. “This conference, held for the first time in 15 years, was a great success. We welcome the participation of all member states, including Afghanistan. This demonstrates the region’s commitment to establishing law, order and crime prevention,” he said.
He added, “I agree with the Iranian Interior Minister’s opinion that Iran is very active in promoting regional cooperation.President Masoud Pezeshkian also emphasized peaceful engagement with neighboring countries in his speech, and this meeting can be a platform for Iran to achieve its goals.”
Mr. Majid Khan further highlighted the final communiqué of the 4th ECO Interior Ministers’ Meeting, saying that it will guide future activities and help strengthen cooperation with law enforcement agencies and crime prevention. “As the Minister pointed out, and I share this view, one of the most important outcomes of this meeting is an understanding of the region’s strong demand for law enforcement cooperation and deepening of crime prevention measures,” he said.
He highlighted several concrete outcomes of the conference, including the continuation of regular ministerial meetings, the appointment of local coordinators in each country to promote law enforcement cooperation and crime prevention, and enhanced information exchange and regional cooperation, especially in the use of advanced technologies to combat AI-related crimes.
Other senior ECO officials also addressed the gathering:
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan Senzhar Askanovich Adylov said that Kazakh police attach great importance to cooperation with ECO member states, noting that organized crime poses a serious threat to the security of all countries.
Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Interior Minister, Lieutenant General Adel Beik Baybusano, warned that today’s threats are not just tangible, such as drug trafficking, but are moving into cyberspace with encrypted channels, requiring intelligence and expertise rather than brute force.
Ayub Khan Rahmatulakhov, Deputy Interior Minister of Uzbekistan, stressed that many crimes cross national borders and are cyber-based, causing material and psychological damage to millions of people and putting personal and confidential information at risk.
Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Riyad al-Kghani, stressed that security remains the top priority and stressed the need for training and an expert-led approach.
Iran and Pakistan seek deeper cooperation
During the bilateral meeting, Mr. Pezeshkian also met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi and reiterated the importance of scientific, cultural, economic, political and security cooperation to further strengthen Iran-Pakistan relations, which he said were friendly, exceptional and based on mutual trust and brotherhood.
“We consider the people of Pakistan as brothers,” Pezeshkian said, stressing Iran’s readiness to help resolve differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Islamic countries must preserve unity and brotherhood to face common challenges,” he added.
Mr. Naqvi praised Iran’s hospitality, described the relationship between the two interior ministries as excellent, and highlighted progress in border security and joint counter-terrorism efforts. He identified terrorism and illegal migration as common concerns and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Iran’s active role in de-escalating regional tensions, particularly in relations between Islamabad and Kabul, and stressed the need for continued close cooperation.