Can't bully Iran into surrender: Pezeshkian slams US strikes on civilian targets
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday said Iran would not surrender to pressure from the US and Israel, accusing them of targeting civilian infrastructure, food supplies and livelihoods rather than confronting Iran’s military forces.
“If Americans are warriors, let them face our valiant military forces. Why wage war on civilian infrastructure, food supplies, and livelihoods?” Pezeshkian said in a post on X. “If they're human, why deny people access to water, food, and medicine? Our people can't be bullied into submission. Iran won't surrender.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on X
Pezeshkian is currently in India to attend the BRICS Summit. In an exclusive interview with India Today Group Editor (Foreign Affairs) Geeta Mohan, he rejected allegations that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons and accused the US and Israel of using claims about Iran’s nuclear programme as a pretext for military action.‘IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME WAS WITHIN INTERNATIONAL RULES’
Pezeshkian said Iran’s nuclear activities had been carried out within internationally recognised rules and pointed to the country’s membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“If we were seeking nuclear weapons, we wouldn't have become a member of NPT. Now they are bringing about alibis and pretexts to attack our soil,” he said.
He said Iran’s nuclear programme had been subjected to extensive international monitoring and that Tehran remained ready to negotiate on nuclear issues within the NPT framework.
“They exercise the greatest amount of monitoring regarding nuclear activities in Iran on a daily basis. They came and monitored, but we did everything and worked within the framework of international principles,” he said.
The Iranian President also questioned what concrete evidence Washington and Tel Aviv had to support their claims about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, describing them as deliberate propaganda.‘TRUMP TALKS DIFFICULT AFTER KHAMENEI KILLING’
Pezeshkian said Tehran was prepared to resume negotiations on the nuclear issue but ruled out an immediate return to direct talks with the US, citing a severe loss of trust between the two countries.
He said direct negotiations with US President Donald Trump would be particularly difficult following the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the war that began on February 28.
“They have martyred our leader on what basis? It is very difficult for our society,” Pezeshkian said, arguing that Iranian society could not be expected to immediately return to direct negotiations after the assassination of its leader.
Asked whether Tehran would agree to direct talks with Trump without preconditions, Pezeshkian said Iran could not take such a decision immediately.
He claimed that Tehran had subsequently reached an understanding with the US and signed a memorandum of understanding, but alleged that Washington later abandoned the agreement.
Pezeshkian said Iran’s position remained that sanctions should be lifted and that the US should stop attacking the country.‘WHY IS ISRAEL’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME NOT SCRUTINISED?’
Pezeshkian also questioned the level of international scrutiny faced by Israel over its nuclear capabilities, pointing to Israel’s non-membership of the NPT.
He accused the US and Israel of using Iran’s opposition to Israeli policies and its support for Palestinians as pretexts for military action against Tehran.
The Iranian President also condemned Israeli and US actions in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing them of killing civilians and restricting access to essential supplies. He criticised what he described as the international community’s silence over the situation.PEZESHKIAN CALLS FOR REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY FRAMEWORK
Pezeshkian called for Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and other countries in the region to jointly establish a framework for peace and security.
“There is no reason for this region to be in conflict,” he said, arguing that Middle Eastern countries could develop mechanisms for cooperation similar to those established by European countries after centuries of conflict.
He said countries could preserve their individual identities and national interests while cooperating under a common regional security framework and expanding trade and economic ties.
Pezeshkian also said Tehran had no problem with the United Arab Emirates and described the UAE and other regional countries as “brothers”, citing longstanding trade and social ties between Iran and its neighbours.- EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 04:44 IST
