Iran’s President Pezeshkian Condemns Israeli Strikes, Calls for Unity and Resistance
Iranian President Pezeshkian condemned Israeli assassinations of Iranian figures, calling them acts of “state terror.” He urged national unity, denied nuclear weapon ambitions, defended Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy, and blamed the U.S. for enabling Israeli aggression.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday strongly condemned recent Israeli operations targeting Iranian commanders, scientists, and civilians, vowing that the Iranian people will not retreat in the face of what he described as state-sponsored terrorism. His remarks were made during a parliamentary session and reported by the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
“The enemy cannot eliminate us or our nation through strikes, killings, and assassinations,” Pezeshkian said, according to IRNA. “For every hero who falls and drops the flag, hundreds of other heroes will rise to carry it. They will stand against the oppression, cruelty, crimes, and betrayals committed by these cowards. This is what our people have shown so far—they have stood firm against all these acts of treachery.”
IRNA quoted the president as stressing that Iran is not the aggressor. He emphasized the need for internal unity amid rising regional tensions: “We are not aggressors. Today, more than ever, we need unity and cohesion. All the people of Iran must join hands and stand powerfully against the aggression that has taken place. Whatever disputes, knots, or problems existed must now be set aside, and we must stand united and coherent against this genocidal aggression.”
Addressing Iran’s nuclear policy, Pezeshkian said—citing IRNA—that Iran has no intentions of building an atomic bomb. “Based on the directives of the Supreme Leader, it was not us who abandoned the field of negotiations and dialogue. We initiated indirect negotiations. We were negotiating, and in accordance with the Supreme Leader’s policies, we are not pursuing nuclear weapons. That is our belief and conviction.”
He further warned that any political figure acting contrary to the Supreme Leader’s guidance “has no place in the Islamic Republic,” affirming that these principles form the foundation of Iran’s state policy.
Pezeshkian, as quoted by IRNA, asserted that Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and research beneficial to society. ““We have the right to use nuclear energy and conduct research that benefits this society, and no one has the right to take that away from the Islamic Republic,” he declared. “We stand firmly to uphold this right and are not afraid of any power in securing it.”
According to IRNA, Pezeshkian denounced the United States for enabling Israeli aggression, stating, “America is engaging in coercion and, contrary to international norms, allows Israel to violate our sovereignty and carry out attacks. We have not sought war, nor have we started it. It wasn’t us who assassinated the commanders and scientists of this country—it was the terrorists who committed these acts.”
The president questioned the targeting of Iran’s scientific community, saying, “What crime did our scientists commit that foreign agents came from across the globe to destroy their lives and families?” He argued that Israel’s repeated attacks would have gone unchallenged were it not for Iran’s missile deterrence, calling the assassinated scientists “defenders of the homeland.”
IRNA also reported Pezeshkian’s remarks on Iran’s broader diplomatic stance. He reiterated that Iran has extended a hand of fraternity to all Islamic countries. “Most Islamic nations, if not all, now stand with us,” he noted, referencing a recent resolution by Pakistan’s Senate backing Iran against Israeli actions.
In a message directed at Iranian lawmakers, Pezeshkian urged a return to wartime unity, calling for grassroots mobilization. “Just as every mosque and neighborhood served as a base during the war, today each local community must join together to resolve our people’s hardships,” he said. “We must not wait for government orders. Every citizen, in every corner, is part of the government.”
IRNA concluded its coverage with Pezeshkian’s final remarks: “Our dear people will defend this land and its thousands of years of history. May God grant us the strength to remain steadfast and resilient on this path.”
