Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has affirmed that his country did not initiate the conflict, accusing the United States and Israel of launching attacks against Iran even while negotiations with Washington were underway.
He stated that Tehran has stood firm against aggressors and defended itself, emphasizing that it is not in a position of weakness and is prepared to safeguard its territory.
Pezeshkian asserted that defending Iran is a legitimate right and does not constitute hostility towards neighboring countries, noting that Tehran considers defending Palestine and rejecting occupation as obligations.
The Iranian president called on Islamic countries to commit to not destabilizing each other's security and to manage regional security without reliance on external parties.