Iran Vows No Surrender as Pezeshkian Challenges US

News Desk

Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran will not surrender to US pressure, challenging Washington to confront the Iranian military rather than targeting civilians and vital infrastructure.

Pezeshkian questioned why civilians were being deprived of essential supplies, including water, food and medicine, and why civilian infrastructure and livelihoods were being targeted. He said the Iranian people could not be forced to surrender through pressure or threats.

Addressing the BRICS summit, Pezeshkian said Iran did not seek war and wanted the conflict to end. Despite what he described as severe pressure and oppression against the Iranian people, he said peace remained Iran’s priority.

The Iranian president also stressed that Tehran had no dispute with Muslim or neighboring countries. He accused the United States of attempting to turn what he described as brotherly nations against Iran.

Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow to threats or compromise its independence. He added that Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States ended its blockade and aggression, while emphasizing that the strategic waterway was not Iran’s only lifeline.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced that Iran would hold a meeting with Gulf Arab states in Oman on September 13. The talks are expected to address the future of the Strait of Hormuz and possible temporary maritime routes through the strategic waterway.

Baghaei warned that Saudi Arabia, Japan and Jordan could face consequences for supporting a resolution against Iran.

He described Iran as being in a state of active warfare rather than simply peace or war, arguing that maritime sanctions and blockades were tantamount to acts of war. According to Baghaei, any action taken by Iran under such circumstances would constitute self-defense.