Pezeshkian: Iran Ready to Strike Israel, Nuclear Program Will Continue
Iran's President says Tehran is ready for military confrontation with Israel, calling the elimination of its nuclear program a 'fantasy.' He stated Iran will defend itself forcefully but believes in diplomacy and that any future U.S. talks must be 'win-win'.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that his country is prepared for any military confrontation with Israel and can strike deep within its territory, while simultaneously dismissing international calls to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program as a “fantasy.”
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pezeshkian stated, "Iran's forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel." He asserted that while Israel dealt a "deadly blow" to Iran, his country responded with a powerful strike of its own, alleging that Israel has "not disclosed their own losses."
The Iranian leader claimed that Israel "does not want anyone to talk about the success of Iran's missile attacks" and suggested that calls to stop the war were a "clear indication of Iran's successes." While issuing these warnings, Pezeshkian clarified that his country "does not want war, nor does he believe a ceasefire will be the end of it," stressing that Iran will "defend themselves forcefully."
Addressing the nuclear issue directly, Pezeshkian rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that attacks had destroyed Iran’s nuclear programs. "This is a 'fantasy,' because our nuclear capability is in the minds of our scientists, not in the facilities," he stated.
Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran is "continuing with uranium enrichment and their nuclear programs," but maintained it is doing so "within the framework of international law." He added, "The President of America says Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon, and Tehran accepts this."
The president also acknowledged that Iran has faced cyber-attacks but claimed that the country has "benefited from American technology and capabilities." He underscored a dual approach, stating that "Iran will not submit, but it believes in diplomacy and dialogue."
Looking ahead, Masoud Pezeshkian stipulated that any future negotiations with the United States "must be based on a win-win principle for both sides."
