Pezeshkian pitches 'CIS + Iran' bloc at Turkmenistan summit

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for a new “CIS + Iran” format, using his first appearance as a special guest at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Turkmenistan to pitch Tehran as the region’s gateway to open waters. Speaking at the gathering, Pezeshkian said that war, external pressure and disrupted trade routes make regional resilience more urgent than ever. He said Iran is not just a partner but a “natural route” to the sea for Central Asia. Iran’s southern ports, notably Chabahar, he said, could link the region to South Asia, Africa and Europe. “Our common interests lie not in competition among routes, but in connecting them,” he said. He also backed Turkmenistan’s UN proposal for a Caspian Sea transport corridor linking Central Asia, South Asia and Europe, saying it could be built using Iranian infrastructure. Pezeshkian used the platform to condemn US and Israeli attacks on Iran, while reiterating Tehran remained open to dialogue, but on one condition: “Negotiation under the shadow of force is not negotiation; it is imposition and coercion.” Sanctions, he warned, would harm not only Iran but regional trade, energy and connectivity.