Tehran: As Israeli strikes continue to rattle Iran’s capital and key infrastructure, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a defiant speech in Parliament, vowing resilience against foreign aggression while reaffirming that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. The remarks, reported by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, come at a moment of intense international scrutiny and rising regional fears.
In his address, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s enduring resistance, stating, “The enemy cannot remove us and the nation from the scene by beating, killing and assassinating. Because for every hero whose flag falls, there are hundreds of other heroes who will take up the flag and stand against the cruelty, injustice, crime and betrayal that these cowards are committing.” His words were clearly aimed at both Israel and its Western allies amid the ongoing violence, which has already claimed hundreds of lives in recent days.
The Iranian leader also stressed that the Islamic Republic is not seeking war. “We are not aggressors,” he said, reiterating that his administration has been engaged in nuclear negotiations with the United States. He directly addressed international concerns by stating, “We are not seeking nuclear weapons,” highlighting that while the West insists Iran must not acquire Them, Tehran has no intention to do so in the first place.
However, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s right to develop peaceful nuclear energy, signaling that uranium enrichment for civilian use will continue. “Iran has the right to benefit from nuclear energy,” he added, framing the program as a sovereign choice rather than a threat.
The comments arrive at a critical time when Israel has accused Iran of hiding nuclear ambitions and used such claims to justify its airstrikes on key Iranian military and nuclear-related sites. As tensions rise and diplomacy falters, Pezeshkian’s statement appears to be a calculated move to reassure allies and deter further escalation by asserting both Iran’s defiance and restraint.
