Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic would not yield to pressure from any foreign power, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to engaging in dialogue with dignity.
Speaking at a gathering of public relations officials from government agencies, the Iranian president said the Islamic Republic would defend its national dignity and rights with prudence.
He rejected calls for abandoning negotiations altogether, saying slogans alone cannot secure results and that diplomacy must be pursued from a position of logic, public backing and national self-respect.
The president said: “We will not bow our heads. We will not sacrifice the nation’s dignity for personal comfort or worldly interests; however, we must govern the country with prudence, and therefore we will engage in dialogue with dignity.”
President Pezeshkian said realities must be presented to the public honestly rather than exaggerated through misleading narratives. He said it was wrong to portray Iran’s adversaries as collapsing while depicting the country as thriving without challenges, arguing that both sides face serious difficulties.
He added that enemies intended to overthrow the Islamic Republic within three days, but they failed, and now they are seeking to create divisions.
President Pezeshkian argued that external pressure is more likely to exploit internal division than military force alone. He called for unity across ethnic and social groups, saying cohesion is critical to preventing adversaries from capitalizing on domestic fractures.
The president also warned that high energy consumption and inefficient resource use could deepen economic pressures. He said improved management and public cooperation would be essential to avoid disruptions affecting industry and households.
At the same time, he said that Iran faces economic hardship and that the public may continue to experience inflation and wartime-like pressures. He said the government’s response should combine sacrifice, truthfulness and broader participation by local officials, civil society, professional groups and industry.
The president said empowering institutions and citizens to help solve problems would be key to strengthening Iran internally while defending its position abroad.
He further criticized double standards in international human rights discourse, pointing to civilian casualties in regional conflicts, including Gaza and Palestine, and questioning Western narratives that frame such actions as self-defense.