No power can force Iran to surrender, Pezeshkian says

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that no power could force Tehran to surrender, vowing that Iran would withstand mounting military, economic and security pressure as long as the country remained united and based its decisions on expertise and reason. Speaking on Sunday at a ceremony marking the administration’s renewal of allegiance to the ideals of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Pezeshkian said that Iran had faced war, sanctions, assassinations and other forms of pressure since his government took office. “Since the government took office, war, sanctions, various forms of pressure and assassinations have been taking place continuously and on a daily basis, ” he said. Pezeshkian said his administration had also inherited major challenges in the water, electricity, gas and fuel sectors, along with environmental and banking problems. He said Iran’s adversaries had expected the country to collapse because of its domestic difficulties. “They thought Iran would become Venezuela, but not only did that not happen; Iran instead became a power whose resistance, solidarity and cohesion astonished the world, ” Pezeshkian said, praising the Iranian people for what he described as an extraordinary achievement. The president said Iran was facing a “full-scale economic, military and security war” and that the government was doing everything possible to protect the public from the impact of sanctions and other pressures. He said key services, including fuel supplies, food distribution, roads and water networks, had continued to operate despite the crises, adding that the government was working to improve living standards and the country’s economic prospects. Pezeshkian defends memorandum Pezeshkian also defended the recently reached memorandum of understanding, saying the framework was the result of extensive consultations involving senior officials, military personnel, lawmakers, judges and other experienced figures. He said the same people involved in Iran’s resistance to its adversaries had participated in discussions that led to the memorandum. Pezeshkian said the framework was agreed on the basis of “expediency, dignity and wisdom”, rejecting criticism from those who opposed the arrangement. He argued that some critics did not fully understand the circumstances surrounding the agreement or had not been directly involved in the decision-making process. Focus on inflation, jobs and livelihoods The Iranian president acknowledged the economic difficulties facing the public and said his administration was focused on tackling inflation, improving livelihoods and creating employment. He accused the United States of pressuring other countries, including Muslim states, to restrict trade with Iran in an effort to force Tehran into submission. He said Iran’s adversaries had expected divisions within society to lead to protests and unrest but had been disappointed by the level of national solidarity. ‘No power can force us to surrender’ Pezeshkian said Iran would continue to resist external pressure while seeking to address the problems facing its people. “If we act correctly, no power can force us into surrender or helplessness, ” he said, stressing the importance of unity, consultation and informed decision-making. He said national strength depended on cohesion and solidarity, urging officials and citizens to support decisions once they had been reached through consultation. Pezeshkian warned that Iran’s adversaries were seeking to exploit economic and social problems to deepen divisions within the country. “We will do everything in our power to stay away from division, rifts, conflicts and selfishness, ” he said, pledging to continue pursuing a path based on knowledge, awareness and national unity.

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