WANA (Jun 24) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that sustainable peace is rooted in authority, dignity, and mutual respect, stating that Tehran is fully prepared to enter into security agreements with neighboring nations, particularly Gulf Arab states, to be reinforced by long-term economic partnerships.

 

Ghalibaf made the remarks during the 20th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Addressing the forum, he expressed his gratitude to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan and the PUIC Secretariat for hosting the event, while offering condolences to the Muslim world on the anniversary of Imam Hussein.

 

‘Dignity is Never Achieved Through Surrender’

“The month of Muharram teaches us that dignity and honor are never obtained through surrender, but rather that blood triumphs over the sword,” Ghalibaf said. “I hope that by adhering to the luminous path of Imam Hussein, our dialogue today serves the collective good of the Islamic Ummah.”

 

The Parliament Speaker noted that the 20th PUIC summit is taking place just as Iran emerges from what he described as a severe 40-day conflict imposed by the United States and Israel.

 

“The 40-day war imposed by the US and the Zionist regime against Iran was a criminal act,” Ghalibaf stated. “In this blatant aggression, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, several high-ranking military and political officials, and more than 3,000 Iranian citizens—mostly women and children—were martyred.”

 

He added, “Additionally, over 30,000 people were injured, and industrial, medical, educational, energy, transportation, and residential infrastructure across Iran were targeted.”

 

High Costs Inflicted on Adversaries

Ghalibaf asserted that the steadfast defense by Iran’s armed forces and citizens inflicted heavy strategic costs on the US and Israel. He argued that this resistance disrupted the calculations of those who believed military pressure, blockades, psychological operations, and targeted attacks could force Iran to retreat or rewrite the regional balance of power in their favor. What occurred, he noted, was in complete contrast to the calculations of the war planners.

 

Ghalibaf emphasized that this steadfastness ultimately paved the way for diplomatic victory, stating: “The Islamabad Accord was not the result of pressure or coercion, but rather the outcome of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation.”

 

He added, “This agreement demonstrated that dialogue only yields results when the opposing side abandons the idea of imposing its will on a civilized nation and recognizes our rights. Consequently, the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding became a declaration of America’s defeat.”

 

Era of Imposing Will on Independent Nations Has Ended

The Parliament Speaker highlighted that the Iranian nation demonstrated that the era of imposing one’s will on independent nations has come to an end. “You witnessed how the world admired this resilience and victory,” he remarked.

 

“While this war imposed heavy costs on our nation, it revealed a fundamental truth: popular resistance alters the calculus of aggressors under the harshest conditions,” Ghalibaf said. “Sustainable peace is not the product of surrender, pressure, or humiliation; it is the outcome of authority, dignity, and respect.”

 

Reiterating a stance aligned with guidance from the Supreme Leader during the conflict, Ghalibaf expressed Iran’s keen interest in establishing a regional security framework.

 

“Iran declares to all Islamic nations, particularly our neighbors in the Gulf region, that we are ready for security pacts sustained by lasting economic cooperation. This will ensure Islamic lands are secure for all investors and safeguarded against common adversaries.”

 

Ghalibaf emphasized: “The Islamic Republic of Iran extends its hand of brotherhood and cooperation to all Islamic nations.”

 

Palestine and the Regional Architecture

Turning to broader Middle Eastern geopolitics, Ghalibaf emphasized that the issue of Palestine remains central to any future stability.

 

“Palestine is not merely a political file or a diplomatic case. The experience of the past 80 years proves that no sustainable security architecture will take shape in West Asia without a just resolution to the Palestinian issue,” he warned.

 

“A peace built on injustice will have a fragile stability, and any security model that ignores parts of the region will eventually transform into widespread insecurity. From this perspective, defending the legitimate rights of the oppressed Palestinian people against daily Zionist aggression is not just the defense of a historical ideal, but the defense of a logic wherein justice and stability are two sides of the same coin.”

 

He concluded by reinforcing Iran’s long-standing strategic position regarding self-determination: “It is the enduring belief of our martyred Imam and our permanent strategy that the Palestinian nation, like all nations of the world, possesses the right to self-determination through a referendum encompassing all original inhabitants of that land—including Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Until then, the resistance of the Palestinian people stands as a legitimate manifestation of self-defense against occupation.”