'Regional cooperation is key to security' - Iranian lawmaker

A senior Iranian lawmaker has underlined the need for cooperation among Persian Gulf states to provide security in the region without the military presence of the US, Press TV reports on Friday.

Mohammad-Karim Abedi, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that recent remarks by American officials regarding the persistence of the US military presence in the Persian Gulf are contrary to regional nations' demands.

He said that although certain regional rulers, who came to power with the help of the US, might welcome the American forces' presence in the Persian Gulf, regional nations, however, are opposed to the US presence in the region.

The Iranian legislator noted that the recent US troops' withdrawal from Iraq was an instance of regional nations' opposition to the US presence, and pointed out that the United States is not welcomed in other countries such as Afghanistan, too.

The lawmaker further said that the US needs to leave the region or regional nations would force it out.