Pezeshkian Says Iran Will Resist Any Attempt to Force Submission

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran will not accept pressure aimed at forcing the country into submission. He said the Islamic Republic will continue defending what it considers its rights and will maintain its military and defensive capabilities.

“If they seek to force us into submission, we will fight. We will not back down, nor will we bow our heads. When we are capable of securing our rights, why should we travel down a path that is desired by Israel?” Pezeshkian said in the third and final part of a televised broadcast aired on Friday. The broadcast marked the second anniversary of his inauguration.

Pezeshkian also rejected any possibility of Iran giving up its military capabilities and defensive strength. He said maintaining these capabilities was a matter on which Iran would not compromise.

“Would it be right for us to accept having all our military capabilities and defensive power taken away from us and to bow before them (the adversaries)? We will not do such a thing,” he said.

‘Armed Forces astonished the world’

Pezeshkian praised Iran’s Armed Forces for their response during what he described as the latest unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against the country.

He said Iran was forced to defend itself and praised the Aerospace Forces, Army, IRGC and other military personnel for their performance.

“We were forced to defend ourselves, and, by God, our fighters – our Aerospace Forces, the Army, the IRGC, and all our servicemen – put up a fierce defense and astonished the world,” Pezeshkian said.

‘Israel, US seeking to unite Persian Gulf states against Iran’

The Iranian president also accused Israel and the United States of trying to bring Persian Gulf countries together against Iran.

“Now, with the war that has unfolded, Israel and the United States are seeking to unite the Persian Gulf countries against us, and we, for our part, are working to prevent that from happening,” he said.

Pezeshkian said Iran supports unity among Muslims and does not believe differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims should divide the Muslim world.

“This is my belief and conviction, and I say it not as a slogan, but because I genuinely believe in it: Muslims are brothers to one another.”

Iran Says It Has No Territorial Ambitions

Pezeshkian rejected claims that Iran wants to expand its territory or attack neighboring countries.

“We have no intention of attacking other countries, seizing territory, or expanding our borders. Unlike the Zionists, who are in fact seeking a ‘Greater Israel…’ We are neighbors with the countries of the region, we share borders with them, and we must live alongside one another…”

He also spoke about the role of regional countries during the latest attacks on Iran. According to Pezeshkian, US forces used the territories of some regional countries to launch attacks against Iran.

“The question is: From where did they (the aggressors) strike Minab School?” he asked, referring to the school in southern Iran that was targeted during the early stages of the aggression, killing 168 people.

“From those very Muslim and friendly countries.”

Pezeshkian said Iran does not want to attack neighboring countries but would respond from locations used to launch attacks against Iran.

“Why should they allow them to come and attack us? We do not want to target those countries; we strike the place from which we are attacked,” Pezeshkian said.

His remarks came as Iran continued to stress its right to defend itself while calling for greater unity among regional and Muslim countries.