Ghalibaf: Security Must Be Homegrown, Not Imported

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that true security must be homegrown and network-based, not imported, during his address at the closing ceremony of the Tehran Dialogue Forum. The forum hosted over 200 high-level delegates from 53 countries.

Ghalibaf, a former professor of political geography, shared his views on global and regional shifts. He argued that geography, not politics, is the foundation of international affairs, rooted in the interaction between place, people, and time. He stressed that land and borders remain central to national identity and power, countering past Western claims that globalization had made geography less relevant.

Referencing recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Ghalibaf said they have reasserted the importance of borders, nationalism, and territorial sovereignty.

He criticized the idea that Israel is a stabilizing force in the Middle East, saying the regime's actions have only fueled instability. He argued that Israel’s integration into regional projects like the IMEC corridor is flawed because it remains a source of violence and displacement. Ghalibaf called for a democratic Palestinian state as the only viable solution for long-term regional peace.

He concluded by warning that sustainable development in the region is impossible through isolated efforts or by excluding key players. True stability, he said, depends on inclusive cooperation and justice for all regional peoples.