President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will stand firm against unilateralism and policies based on pressure and sanctions, stressing that stronger regional cooperation and multilateralism can help reduce the impact of such measures. During a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, President Pezeshkian and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic ties between Tehran and Moscow, with both presidents describing bilateral relations as steadily expanding across political, economic and other fields. The Iranian president thanked Russia for supporting Iran in international forums and in the face of US sanctions. President Pezeshkian said Russia’s positions at the United Nations and other international institutions demonstrate that relations between the two countries go beyond normal diplomatic ties and are rooted in shared interests and strategic considerations. He stressed the need to confront unilateralism and policies based on pressure and sanctions, saying Iran has the capacity to withstand such measures. He viewed the SCO summit as evidence of broader opposition to a unilateral international order. President Pezeshkian said no country should violate another’s sovereignty or impose its objectives through force. He also referred to the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran and the martyrdom of senior officials, commanders and civilians, including schoolchildren, describing the attacks as unlawful and unjustifiable. He said the Iranian people had firmly resisted the aggression and would continue to do so if such actions were repeated. On the nuclear issue, President Pezeshkian said Iran remains prepared to fulfill its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding if the United States returns to its own obligations. He added that Washington could not force the Iranian people to accept unlawful demands through coercion. President Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of Iran’s active participation in regional and international organizations, including the SCO and BRICS, saying stronger cooperation among member states could reduce the impact of unilateral sanctions and pressure. He described Iran-Russia relations as sincere and deep, expressing confidence that cooperation would expand further. The Russian president, for his part, reaffirmed Moscow’s determination to maintain and deepen cooperation with Tehran in all areas. He paid tribute to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people following the martyrdom of senior officials, commanders and civilians. President Putin described the attacks as a tragedy and said the US and Israel had failed to achieve their objectives, citing Iranian unity and resistance. He said Moscow had repeatedly warned that military action against Iran would have no successful outcome, stressing Iran’s deep-rooted civilization. He also expressed concern over continuing regional tensions and voiced hope that negotiations would produce tangible results. President Putin said Russia and Iran had maintained growth in trade and economic relations despite military and political challenges in the region, adding that Moscow would continue developing ties with Tehran across all sectors. The Russian president also asked President Pezeshkian to convey his greetings and respect to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.