Iran Has ‘No Choice but to Defend Ourselves,’ President Pezeshkian Says
Tehran – Iran has no choice but to defend itself following what it described as “American-Zionist military aggression,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday in a message addressed to neighbouring Middle Eastern leaders and posted on X, reiterating Tehran’s respect for the sovereignty of regional states while signalling that Iran would respond militarily to the attacks.
In the statement, Pezeshkian said Iran had attempted to avoid war through diplomatic engagement with neighbouring governments but that recent military actions by the United States and Israel had forced Tehran to act in self-defence. “We have strived alongside you and through diplomacy to avoid war, but the American-Zionist military aggression has left us no choice but to defend ourselves,” he wrote.
The Iranian president addressed the message to what he described as “friendly and neighboring states,” stressing that Tehran respects the sovereignty of countries across the Middle East. He added that regional security and stability should be achieved collectively by states in the region rather than through outside intervention.
Iranian officials have repeatedly framed their military posture in recent months as defensive, arguing that the country is responding to external threats. Pezeshkian’s remarks reflect Tehran’s long-standing position that regional security arrangements should be managed by Middle Eastern governments themselves.
The message appeared aimed at reassuring neighbouring governments that Iran’s response would not threaten their territorial sovereignty while also signalling that Tehran considers recent military actions against it to justify retaliation under self-defence.
