Iran hates war, bloodshed: Pezeshkian
‘People, not missiles’ make the difference
In a significant display of diplomatic cooperation, Iran and Russia have signed a strategic agreement, bolstering their partnership in the face of pressures from the West. In a recent interview with Russia’s Channel One during his daylong trip to Moscow on January 17, 2025, President Masoud Pezeshkian highlighted the deal’s potential to reshape the global landscape and promote a more just world order. What follows is a translation of some of the most important parts of that conversation from Farsi into English.
International Desk
RUSSIA-1: Is there anything beyond what has been mentioned in the newly signed treaty between Iran and Russia, especially in the economic sector, that you would like to highlight?
PEZESHKIAN: The treaty covers three main areas. It has 47 articles, about 12 of which are about security and political issues where we need to work with each other. The security issues, for example, range from the security of Iran and Russia to regional security and possible interventions to create peace and security in our region. We can work together in these areas.
From articles 19 to 40, the agreement explores economic issues like cooperating in the development of the fields of rail, road, trade, energy, and electricity. It also discusses the projects we can pursue with each other as well as how to follow up on the commitments made.
Given some claims about the possibility of US or Israeli military action against Iran, has an agreed form of joint defense emerged?
According to the deal, if another country attacks Iran or Russia, we are committed to not cooperating with them and not allowing it to follow through. A form of cooperation between us and the Russian Federation has been imagined, and the details will be determined by future processes and agreements. In general, there are articles that pertain to the direction of future agreements with each other, allowing the two countries to continue working together later.
So, there will be security negotiations in the future. Is that correct?
Definitely. And not just in the area of security; Rather, in all areas where we previously said deals have been made. They all need follow-up work to become operational.
The West, especially the US, is not only committing economic terrorism on Iran but has also assassinated prominent figures such as Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and a foreign guest who was officially visiting your country. The international community has not only failed to condemn these actions but also accuses Iran of supporting terrorism. Why has Tehran been so patient in the face of these threats and accusations?
The approach that both the Zionist regime has in Gaza and the Americans have elsewhere is clear. The route that the Zionist regime has taken in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria over the past 15 months has violated every international rule and law. They assassinate and bomb without worry, and the US and Europe strongly defend them. In no international framework or law has any country been allowed to bomb and massacre innocent people, even in war, but the Zionists do this with ease.
Meanwhile, those who claim to be advocates of human rights and democracy show that they stand against their own claims. Saying is not enough; what happened in Gaza was genocide. It got to the point where the International Court of Justice (ICJ) condemned them and the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for their commanders. But still, the US and Europeans not only defend the Zionist regime and its crimes but also equip and arm it to continue these crimes. Then, they sit in the halls of the UN and other organizations and advocate democracy, human rights, and peace.
I challenge them to show proof that the Islamic Republic of Iran has started a war somewhere. I challenge them to prove that Iranians have been involved in assassinations in other countries. The perpetrators of such assassinations have been either themselves or groups like the Daesh (ISIS) they have trained.
They strong-arm the media and some international organizations with money, intimidation, and sanctions to approve and implement what they say. Currently, they are trying to tell the world that Iran is seeking atom bombs. This is while both the standpoint of the Leader of Iran’s Revolution and our policies and beliefs were originally against pursuing nuclear weapons, still are, and will always be. Yet, the West alone keeps saying that we are seeking to produce nuclear weapons, just to incite Iranophobia.
Throughout the campaign trail, my motto was that we should create unity and cohesion in the country and make friends with our neighbors. On the first day of my presidency, however, they assassinated our guest in Tehran. Under what international law did they have the right to do this? Regardless, the US and Europe defended them.
The deal we signed with Russia is based on the grounds that we are not the only ones who have been treated this way. They also work hard to show a different face of Russia. Since they control the media and have financial and international power, they unfortunately can exert pressure and change perceptions to some extent. However, if we stick together and all the countries that accept the principles of freedom and independence stand together, their unilateralism will disappear.
The leaders of Israel, in addition to repeatedly pleading with the Iranian people to act against their own country, have always tried to portray Iran as an anti-Jewish country. This is while Iran has a history of saving Jews and many Jews currently live in Iran, have a representative in the Iranian parliament, and worship freely in their synagogues. What is your opinion on this?
Who can believe these words? Everywhere I went, my motto was that we are against no one. We are against oppression and crime, and we are against those who have power and use it to plunder the resources and wealth of poor countries.
From a religious point of view, we believe that all divine religions come from God and are respectable. We believe in our own prophet, as well as in Prophet Moses (PBUH) and Jesus Christ (PBUH). How can we be anti-Jewish? Their prophet is Moses (PBUH).
The dispute is over worldly issues; there is no dispute over religions. All religions say that you should not bow to oppression and should not be captivated by power, hypocrisy, and deception. Every religion says this in its own words, but they all preach the same things: justice, fairness, rights, and not fighting with each other.
How do you assess the recent developments in the region and the Americans’ efforts to create instability on Iran’s borders? What consequences can they have for the future of the region?
What is happening in the region is a re-engineering done by the powers to further infiltrate the Middle East because there are huge reserves of oil and gas as well as various mines in this region. Why aren’t they fighting over Africa? Because the reserves are not there. Naturally, to dominate and plunder the Middle East’s reserves, they engineer it so that the communities here fight with each other, leaving them alone to do their thing.
The art can be to try to respect each other’s rights and each other, and not allow others to take advantage of our differences and intensify them. It all depends on the rulers of countries and their perspective, and how they interact with regional powers and infiltrating powers. Why have they imposed sanctions on Russia and Iran? Because these two countries do not want to play along with this game.
Despite severe sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has made significant progress and achieved notable successes, for example, in the defense sector and the production of missiles and drones. Given these capabilities, to what extent can Iran defend itself?
Weapons and missiles are one thing, but a more important thing is the people. They are under the impression that even though we have missiles, they would not be useful to us if our differences have been intensified. We once did not have missiles, but our people were all together. They encouraged Iraq and helped it in order to destroy Iran, but they could not take even an inch of our land.
We are capable of creating the means to defend ourselves. We have never had the intention of attacking any country and we still would not. We hate war and bloodshed. Life is short, and we have only 50 to 70 years to live. If we do not fight, we can live this limited time in peace and security. Why are we fighting and killing each other and invading each other’s land? We can have our own lands, help each other, be human, and practice humanity. Unfortunately, however, this mentality is not dominant.
If we stay united to defend our country, we will not be defeated, whether have missiles or not. Regardless, we are strengthening our military power day by day so the thought of attacking us and bombing us like Gaza — while the world remains silent — would not pass their mind easily.
How did you evaluate your recent conversation with President Putin? Did you feel that a friendship was blossoming between you two? In modern times, it is very important for personal relationships to be established between leaders.
We are gradually bringing our views closer together. The feeling and position that Mr. Putin has on unilateralism that made him believe that there should be multilateralism are mutually being strengthened in us and in those who seek freedom and independence. As a result, we feel a sense of companionship and closeness in our beliefs, and we will stand together.
The full interview first appeared in Farsi on president.ir.