Iran parliament speaker says regional security can only be established by local states The US military presence in the Middle East does not bring security, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told state TV on Tuesday, pointing out that regional security needs to be established by regional countries. "The face and order of the Middle East will change, but not according to US plans. We, the Islamic countries of the region, will establish regional order and security in the economic and security dimensions," Qalibaf said, adding that US forces need to leave the region. A view of a damaged residential neighbourhood following a military strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on 15 March, 2026. (Atta Kenare / AFP)