“He called for the formulation of security arrangements.” Araqchi announced that contacts would be made with 12 of his counterparts in the countries of the region within 48 hours.

(CNN) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday that he held a series of telephone consultations with 12 of his counterparts in the countries of the region during the past 48 hours, which dealt with “the necessity of formulating regional security arrangements based on joint cooperation away from the interference of external forces.”

Araqchi explained that these contacts included the foreign ministers of the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Cyprus, Turkey, Kuwait, the Emirates, Tunisia, Iraq and Pakistan, according to what was reported by the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

The Iranian Foreign Minister added, "The communications dealt with the latest regional and international developments, with a focus on the repercussions of escalation and provocative moves by America and Israel."

The Iranian Foreign Minister explained that during these consultations, he reviewed what he described as “Iran’s principled positions,” stressing “the necessity of respecting the national sovereignty of countries, stopping all forms of aggression and threats, and avoiding foreign interference that would undermine stability,” according to IRNA.

He also stressed "the responsibility of the countries of the region to limit the spread of insecurity," as he described it.

Abbas Araqchi stressed "Iran's legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and national security," and called for "the necessity of formulating regional security arrangements based on joint cooperation away from the interference of external forces," according to IRNA.

This came while US President Donald Trump said that the entire Middle East region would not have existed had he not prevented Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon, as he put it.

Trump said in a post on his “Truth Social” platform: “Israel, and even the entire Middle East region, would not exist today if I had not prevented Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon. No one wants to say that, but everyone knows it is the truth! President Donald J. Trump.”

Eight months after the start of the conflict, the war has reached a stalemate, with a decline in military operations and the absence of any tangible diplomatic progress. In the past few weeks, Iranian negotiators moved between Tehran and Doha, while Qatari mediators sought to bring the views of the two parties closer together, hoping to reach an agreement that would pave the way for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program and end the war.