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, Tasnim news agency reported. 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.