Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi attended an interactive session with participants of the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference, held in the presence of Hojjatoleslam Hamid Shahriari, Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, as well as scholars and thinkers from Iran and other countries.Addressing regional and international developments, Araghchi described the issue of Palestine as the most important concern of the Muslim world and stressed the need to strengthen Islamic unity to thwart the conspiracies of the Israeli regime and its main supporter, the United States.“Our approach to the Muslim world is based on strengthening unity among the Islamic Ummah,” the Iranian foreign minister said. “This approach is the legacy of Imam Khomeini and our martyred leader, and today, under the guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, we are all determined to continue along the same path.”Describing developments in the region over the past two years, including the US-Israeli wars imposed on Iran, Araghchi said the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution after 70 years of struggle for Iran’s independence and dignity had established a new starting point and foundation for continuing the path of seeking justice and exercising strength.“Undoubtedly, avenging the blood of our martyred leader, in continuation of the movement of Karbala, will remain a lasting demand of the Iranian nation and all Muslims and freedom-seekers around the world,” he said.Araghchi said the Islamic Republic of Iran, which he described as a “blessed tree,” had grown into a strong and mighty tree thanks to the blood of martyrs, the steadfastness of the discerning Iranian people and the courage of the country’s powerful armed forces, adding that its strength and dignity would continue to increase.Referring to the consequences of the US-Israeli military aggression for the region, the foreign minister said one of the most important outcomes of the war was that everyone realized the US military presence in regional countries does not provide security for them.“The only objective of the United States in the region is to support the illegitimate and expansionist ambitions of the genocidal Zionist regime,” he said.Araghchi said this growing understanding, which amounts to losing hope in the United States, could pave the way for the emergence of endogenous security based on trust and cooperation among regional countries.He also highlighted the Islamic Republic’s commitment to the interests of the Islamic Ummah, particularly the Resistance Front, saying Iran had spared no effort at any stage to help promote unity in the Muslim world in confronting the Israeli regime’s occupation, ending the genocide against Palestinians, and putting an end to Israel’s aggression and occupation of Lebanon.The foreign minister stressed that Iran firmly believes security and stability in West Asia require an end to the Israeli regime’s impunity and the realization of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, with Al-Quds as its capital. He added that the Islamic Republic’s proposed plan in this regard was clear.Araghchi described strengthening national self-confidence and demonstrating the value and importance of independence and self-reliance as among the most important legacies of the Islamic Revolution.He said these factors had contributed to advancing a diplomacy based on dignity, emphasizing that Iran’s diplomatic apparatus would continue working with full force to safeguard the country’s national interests based on the three principles of “dignity, wisdom and expediency,” and would under no circumstances show leniency toward excessive demands or bullying.During the session, Araghchi thanked Muslim scholars and thinkers from various countries for attending the International Islamic Unity Conference and responded to questions and proposals raised by some participants.He also stressed Iran’s principled approach to developing good relations with all Islamic countries, particularly neighboring states, saying Tehran sought the best possible relations with its neighbors in all fields, including economic and scientific cooperation.He said strengthening relations among Muslim countries was essential to enhancing the position of the Muslim world globally and improving the situation of Muslims in all parts of the world.“I believe that God has destined the path of unity and solidarity for Islamic countries,” Araghchi said, adding that care must be taken to ensure that differences do not allow enemies to exploit them to sow division among the Islamic Ummah.At the end of the meeting, the foreign minister thanked Hamid Shahriari and the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought for organizing the session and for their efforts to strengthen Islamic unity.Shahriari, for his part, thanked the Foreign Ministry for its cooperation in organizing the 40th Islamic Unity Conference, as well as the foreign minister and Iran’s diplomatic apparatus for their continued efforts to promote rapprochement and unity across the Muslim world.