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President says time to end war while ‘in position of strength’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that it would be better to end the war now while Iran is “in a position of strength and dignity”, while warning that Tehran would respond forcefully to any renewed attack.
Speaking at the 31st General Assembly of the Islamic Association of the Iranian Medical Society, Pezeshkian described the recent agreement reached between Iran and the United States to end the aggression as a “major achievement” approved unanimously by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Pezeshkian described the agreement as “honorable and valuable,” rejecting criticism that Tehran had made concessions.
“They cannot find even a single clause in this agreement that indicates surrender; all the commitments are related to the other side,” he said.
“War should end at some point. It is better to end the war today, while we are in a position of strength and dignity,” he added.
“The whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America has attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world.”
No surrender
Pezeshkian stressed that Iran should not reject peace. However, he said that this does not mean Tehran would surrender if they launch another aggression against the country.
“We will not bow to bullying and there is no doubt about it. We will stand against them until our last breath and give them a crushing response”.
He added that military commanders and Armed Forces remain fully prepared to defend the country, while stressing the importance of maintaining domestic unity.
Iran and the US signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding in Islamabad on June 17 under Pakistani and Qatari mediation, providing for an end to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and a 60-day period of negotiations toward a final agreement.
However, the US began to violate the agreement by attacking Iran in July on the pretext of Tehran’s attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf, prompting Iran’s response to the attacks by targeting US military bases in the region.
The understanding had recognized Iran’s rights and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and said Iran was responsible for removing restrictions that it has imposed over the strait for vessels affiliated with aggressors and their supporters since the start of the aggression on February 28. However, the US attempted to undermine Iran’s sovereignty by establishing an unsafe corridor near the Omani shores.
The US measure prompted Iran’s firm response to re-impose restrictions on the waterway. Tehran says any movement in the strategic chokepoint must be conducted under Iranian arrangements, as per the understanding.