President stresses power diplomacy while voicing skepticism about US
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that every rational and diplomatic path should be used to reduce regional and international tensions caused by the recent US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
"War benefits no one. While standing firm against threats, we must use every rational and diplomatic path to reduce tensions," Pezeshkian said during a visit to the Justice Ministry.
However, the Iranian president said that vigilance and distrust in interactions with Washington were an "undeniable necessity.”
Pezeshkian noted that through “empathy, honesty, and collective participation, we can get past this stage and continue the country's path toward dignity and progress.”
The president noted that passing through the battlefield “does not mean the end of the road. Rather, it marks the beginning of a more important phase: the 'Greater Struggle.'”
He described this as a crusade in which all people must play a role through patience, tolerance, cooperation, and active participation in rebuilding the country and solving its problems.
"This phase requires greater mental and social readiness than the war era," he added.
A two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire on Wednesday, with US representatives set to reach Islamabad for Iran negotiations on Monday while Tehran has yet to announce whether it will send a delegation to Pakistan.
Iran and the US reached the ceasefire after nearly 40 days of aggression by the US and Israel against Iran which met with Iran’s retaliation.
The Iranian president also said on Monday that strengthening unity among Islamic countries is the most important way to counter conspiracies and prevent foreign powers from taking advantage.
On Sunday, Pezeshkian underlined that Iran is not seeking to expand the war in the region, adding that some powers are trying to drag regional countries in conflicts in order to exploit their resources, while the nations of the region must stand against such approaches through unity and solidarity, and strengthen the path of cooperation and cohesion.