Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said adversaries of Iran had expected the country to collapse following recent military attacks, but instead the conflict strengthened national unity, as he reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and expanding regional cooperation.
Speaking during a meeting in Tehran on Friday with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, who traveled to Tehran with a delegation to attend a memorial ceremony honoring the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, President Pezeshkian thanked the Georgian government and people for their condolences and expressions of solidarity. He said the support provided an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The Iranian president criticized recent aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, calling them violations of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the rules of international humanitarian law. He said the conflict resulted in the martyrdom of senior officials, military commanders, scientists, academics, schoolchildren, and civilians, while parts of the country’s infrastructure were also damaged.
He also said the attacks constituted a violation of national sovereignty and crimes against civilians. He added that Iran had responded within its legitimate right to self-defense and relied on its national capabilities to deliver a firm and proportionate response.
President Pezeshkian said those behind the attacks believed that targeting Iran’s leadership and increasing military pressure would weaken the country and trigger its collapse. Instead, he said, the conflict reinforced national solidarity and unity. He added that Iran’s Armed Forces had defended the country’s security and territorial integrity, while the government ensured that public services and state administration continued without disruption.
Iran will never bow to bullying, the president emphasized, adding that the Iranian people would not submit to coercion.
He also said the Israeli regime plays a destabilizing role in the region and reiterated Iran’s commitment to promoting peace, stability, and cooperation with neighboring countries.
He further said Georgia holds an important place in Iran’s regional policy and emphasized the potential to expand cooperation in political, economic, trade, scientific, educational, cultural, and tourism sectors.
Kavelashvili conveyed condolences from the Georgian government and people over the martyrdom of the Iranian Leader and citizens during the conflict and said Georgia had stood alongside Iran during the difficult period.
He reaffirmed Georgia’s support for peace, respect for national sovereignty, and the legitimate right of countries to defend themselves.
The Georgian president also thanked Iran for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and expressed readiness to remove obstacles to closer political, economic, cultural, scientific, and educational cooperation, saying the two countries could build a new chapter in bilateral relations.