TEHRAN (Iran News) – Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani says the security of the Middle East can be only guaranteed through the establishment of regional collations free from any form of foreign interference.

“Only those coalitions, which are free from influence and interference of foreigners, can solve problems, restore Mideast security and last [for a long time],” Shamkhani said in a meeting with the visiting Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi in Tehran on Monday.

The Iranian official’s remarks were clear reference to the failure of the United States in forming a so-called coalition comprising regional and extra-regional states to allegedly protect the security of shipping in the Persian Gulf.

On November 7, the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), a US-led military coalition in the Persian Gulf, officially launched its operations supposedly seeking to protect shipping lanes near Iranian territorial waters.

The US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain announced that the IMSC, formerly known as Operational Sentinel, had opened its command center in the country.

Last month, Iran slammed the US move to create a coalition in the Persian Gulf, saying it will only exacerbate insecurity and instability across the world.

“History shows that American coalitions have always been nothing but misnomers, which have not only failed to create security but also caused more insecurity and instability in different parts of the world,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

The IMSC launched its operation nearly five months after Washington announced that it was seeking to form a “multinational maritime effort” in response to a series of mysterious explosions targeting vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman earlier this year.

The US and Saudi Arabia were quick to blame Iran for the incidents without providing conclusive evidence.

Washington announced a deployment of 1,000 additional troops in the region following the attacks.

Iran has roundly rejected the accusations, emphasizing its commitment to regional maritime security and its importance in safeguarding international trade.