AiBotIranian President Ebrahim Raisi welcomed a who’s who of regional leaders to Tehran on Tuesday for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, a biennial gathering of nations that seek to promote peace and cooperation in a turbulent world. The event, which marks the 20th edition of the NAM summit, attracted a large number of high-profile dignitaries from across the Middle East and beyond.
Notably, all of Iran’s main neighbors made an appearance at the summit, underscoring the country’s diplomatic efforts in the region. Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were among the prominent leaders who joined their Iranian counterpart in Tehran. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow also travelled to the host nation, despite ongoing tensions and conflicts in the region.
Turkey and Azerbaijan, another key regional player, did not send their leaders to the summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was conspicuous by his absence, sparking speculation about the underlying reasons for his decision. Erdogan’s government has historically maintained a tense relationship with Iran, and the two nations have been vying for influence in the region.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also opted to skip the summit. Baku’s relations with Tehran have been strained in recent times, primarily due to differences over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and disputes over energy resources.
Despite the no-show of Erdogan and Aliyev, however, the NAM summit still drew a massive turnout of high-profile leaders from across the world. Iranian officials hailed the event as a testament to the country’s status as a key player in regional diplomacy. “The presence of leaders from around the world is a sign of the importance of Iran’s role in global affairs,” said Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
The NAM summit, which was attended by over 100 national leaders and international organizations, focused on a range of pressing issues, including climate change, economic development, and human rights. Raisi urged the participating nations to work together to address the global challenges that threaten human civilization.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a final declaration that reaffirmed the values of the Non-Aligned Movement. Despite the absence of some key regional leaders, the event demonstrated the Iranian government’s commitment to regional diplomacy and its desire to strengthen ties with its neighbors.