President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, June 4, 2025.
Khankendi, July 5 (RHC)-- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned the recent Israeli aggression on Iran, emphasizing that the Iranian armed forces delivered a decisive response that thwarted the spread of war and protected the nation’s sovereignty.
Speaking at the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit, Pezeshkian condemned Israel’s unlawful military campaign, which targeted civilians, academic centers, nuclear facilities under international oversight, and essential infrastructure.
Pezeshkian described the Israeli strikes as clear breaches of the United Nations Charter, including Article 2, paragraph 4, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
“In this war, the Iranian armed forces, in line with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, legitimately defended the country’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, teaching the aggressors a decisive lesson, and preventing the spread of war throughout the region,” he said.
The Iranian president praised ECO member countries and regional allies for their support and condemnation of Israel’s aggression, emphasizing the importance of regional solidarity in the face of external threats.
“The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization is also a valuable opportunity to once again bring recent acts of aggression—and the regional and global threats they pose—to the attention of the international community.”
President Pezeshkian stressed the role of ECO as a foundation for regional economic strength and cooperation. He urged member states to build on this unity by advancing trade, improving transit routes, and embracing new technologies to create a prosperous and resilient region.
Pezeshkian also addressed ECO’s role in regional development, noting that while the organization has made progress since its founding in 1964 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, challenges remain.
He highlighted the need to expand intra-regional trade, currently at only 8 percent, far below targeted goals. He called for renewed efforts to finalize and implement the ECO trade agreement and urged the launch of negotiations to establish a free trade zone by 2035.
Improving transit and transportation infrastructure is another priority, especially to facilitate access for the seven landlocked member states to global markets, the president said.
“We must provide new privileges at entry and exit points for landlocked countries to improve trade and transit efficiency,” Pezeshkian said. He also highlighted the growing importance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, proposing the creation of an ECO regional center specializing in AI to boost cooperation and competitiveness.
Tourism was noted as another promising sector to drive growth across ECO countries, with Pezeshkian encouraging further investment in the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
The 17th ECO Summit brought together heads of state and government officials to reinforce cooperation and chart a vision for peace, prosperity, and stability in Central and South Asia, the Caucasus, and West Asia.
