President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised Iran’s Armed Forces for their role in defending the country during the recent wars, while stressing that national unity, political cooperation and coordination between the government and the military are essential to preserving its strength and security.
Speaking at a meeting with secretaries-general of political parties and political activists in Tehran on Monday, President Pezeshkian said the sacrifices and resistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces had played a decisive role in confronting recent attacks and safeguarding the country’s national power.
He said the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Basij and other forces had defended the country despite differences in political viewpoints and deserved continued support and appreciation.
President Pezeshkian argued that weakening the Armed Forces would undermine a vital national asset. He also highlighted the lives of several commanders who were martyred during the recent conflicts, describing their sacrifice and commitment as worthy of recognition.
He further stressed that the government and Armed Forces had maintained coordination on diplomatic issues, including the recent Islamabad memorandum of understanding. According to President Pezeshkian, military officials were involved in discussions over the issue, and both sides ultimately concluded that pursuing an understanding was the best course available.
The president said Iran’s challenges could not be addressed through military strength alone, arguing that the country also needed political and social cohesion. He warned that adversaries’ strategy was no longer limited to military confrontation but increasingly focused on creating divisions inside the country.
Unity and cohesion were therefore presented as a central pillar of national power, President Pezeshkian said, noting that differences in political views should not become a source of internal confrontation and stressed that all political and social currents should contribute to addressing economic and social problems.
He called on political parties to shift competition toward public service, particularly in areas such as livelihoods, employment, housing and healthcare. Rather than merely presenting plans or criticizing government performance, he urged political groups to take practical responsibility for solving problems.
The president also emphasized the importance of realistic policymaking, saying decisions should be based on knowledge, data and an assessment of whether actions actually advance national objectives. He warned that pursuing a course simply out of insistence could move policymakers farther from their intended goals.
President Pezeshkian added that the government was seeking to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, expand public participation and delegate greater authority to provincial and local officials. He argued that Iran possessed substantial human and material capacities but needed mechanisms that would allow those capabilities to be activated.
He concluded by stressing that all Iranians should be treated fairly and that political competition should ultimately serve the public interest, and that stronger cooperation between political forces, society, the government and the Armed Forces would help protect Iran’s independence, security and national interests.