President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the current conditions provide the best opportunity for Iran to pursue an agreement through dialogue, stressing that Tehran will not compromise on its national rights and interests in the process.
Speaking at a press conference with journalists in Tehran on Saturday on the occasion of the National Journalists’ Day, President Pezeshkian said Iran was determined to pursue a political solution to the current confrontation and move beyond the state of neither war nor peace. He emphasized that lasting problems could not be resolved through war alone and that negotiations should be based on mutual steps and respect for Iran’s rights.
“We will move forward to the extent that they do, but if they refuse to move forward, we will not accept it. We will not submit to coercion or accept demands imposed on us by force,” President Pezeshkian said, stressing that Tehran remained prepared to pursue an existing framework for an agreement if the United States could create an atmosphere of trust, although he described Washington as untrustworthy.
President Pezeshkian also highlighted regional diplomacy as a key element of Iran’s foreign policy, saying relations with neighboring countries had improved despite complications arising from the recent conflict. He said Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iraq and Russia had cooperated with Iran in various ways, while dialogue with Azerbaijan was continuing despite political differences.
He said regional countries had strongly condemned the Israeli regime and the United States during the 12-day war, describing the positions as significant compared with previous regional responses. President Pezeshkian added that Iran’s military responses to attacks were aimed at defending its security and territorial integrity.
On economic diplomacy, the president said Iran was expanding trade and economic cooperation with regional countries while making greater use of international mechanisms including the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
He said Iran was also developing alternative trade routes to withstand sanctions and wartime restrictions. As an example, he noted that the number of trains carrying goods from China to Iran had increased from one per week to three per day, while Tehran was working to activate additional routes through Azerbaijan, Russia and other regional corridors.
President Pezeshkian stressed that closer relations with foreign partners should not create dependence on them, saying Iran’s primary reliance should remain on its own people and domestic capacities.
He further emphasized the importance of national unity and coordination among state institutions, saying differences of opinion should be resolved through dialogue and expert decision-making. President Pezeshkian warned that internal divisions and unverified information could undermine national security at a time when Iran faces external pressure and threats.