Pezeshkian says Iran never to cave in to US bullying, coercion
Iranian President said on Tuesday that Iran rejects the language of threats, and will never submit to US “bullying” as tensions are still high between Tehran and Washington following an aggression against Iran on February 28.
However, the Iranian president said that Iran is prepared to engage any dialogue within the framework of international law.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in a phone call with Iraqi prime minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi on Tuesday, during which they discussed the challenges faced by regional countries following the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready for any dialogue within the framework of international law, but based on its faith, belief, and conviction, it has not submitted and will never submit to coercion in any way. If they speak to us logically, dialogue is possible, but the language of threats and bullying will not lead anywhere,” Pezeshkian said during the phone call.
The US and Israel started a fresh round of aerial aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country.
Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases and interests in regional countries.
On April 8, a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US took effect. However, subsequent peace negotiations in Islamabad ultimately failed amid Washington’s maximalist demands and insistence on unreasonable positions.
Despite the ongoing ceasefire announced, US President Donald Trump continues to threaten Iran with military aggression, while refusing to lift a so-called naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.
Iran has maintained that the blockade amounts to piracy and warned that if the security of its ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is threatened, no other port will be safe.
Pezeshkian stressed that the Islamic Republic is keen to maintain its relations with the Persian Gulf Arab states based on good neighborliness.
“We do not want any conflict with our brothers in the region, but the reality is that our country's schools, hospitals, and infrastructure were bombed from American bases located on the territory of some countries in the region and with the use of their space and facilities,” he said.
“We call for unity and cohesion among the Muslim Ummah based on religious teachings, and we believe that if the right, fair, and just path is followed, there will be no reason left for disagreement,” the president added.
For his part, al-Zaidi vowed to enhance relations with Iran in the economic, political, security and regional convergence fields.
He also expressed Baghdad's readiness to host negotiations between Iran and the United States with the aim of ending the war.