WANA (Sep 13) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed that Iran has never been the initiator of a war, saying Tehran has defended itself against attacks by the United States and Israel while remaining ready for talks within the framework of international law and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

 

In an interview with India Today on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India, Pezeshkian described Iran-India relations as rooted in thousands of years of historical and cultural ties and stressed the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in transit and investment at the Chabahar port.

 

Referring to Iran’s geopolitical position, he said Iran could serve as a major transit hub connecting the south to the north and the east to the west. Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to revive this route in cooperation with regional countries and use its potential to expand economic, cultural, political and scientific ties.

 

Chabahar as a Hub for Iran-India Cooperation

Pezeshkian said Iran and India had discussed various forms of cooperation over investment in Chabahar, adding that India could continue its investments at the port or participate in joint projects with Iran.

 

The Iranian president also described BRICS as a platform for reducing member states’ dependence on a US-dominated economic system, saying the bloc’s members should be able to pursue trade, investment and cooperation independently of unilateral sanctions.

 

He also highlighted the role of the New Development Bank in supporting joint investments and reducing dependence on the US dollar.

 

Iran’s Dispute Is With the US, Not Regional Countries

Asked about Iran’s relations with Arab countries in the region, Pezeshkian said Tehran had no problem with the United Arab Emirates or other neighboring countries, identifying the presence and activities of US military bases in the region as the main source of tension.

 

He described the countries of the region as Iran’s “brothers” and said Tehran sought to expand relations with all its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Russia and China.

 

Pezeshkian stressed that regional countries could establish joint mechanisms to maintain security and promote economic development without relying on outside powers.

 

‘If We Sought Nuclear Weapons, We Would Not Have Joined the NPT’

The Iranian president rejected accusations that Tehran was seeking to develop nuclear weapons, saying Iran had always operated within the framework of international law.

 

“If we were seeking nuclear weapons, we would not have joined the NPT,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran was ready to discuss its nuclear program within the framework of the NPT and international law.

 

He said Iran had previously been subject to extensive monitoring and inspections and questioned why no evidence had been presented to support accusations that Tehran was seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

 

Pezeshkian also criticized Israel for not being a member of the NPT and called for international institutions to apply the same standards to nuclear weapons across the region.

 

Pezeshkian: Iran Is Not Seeking War

Addressing the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, Pezeshkian said Tehran had entered negotiations several times in an effort to end the war and reach an agreement, but military attacks and changes in US positions had undermined trust.

 

Referring to previous negotiations and agreements, he said Iran could not easily place its trust in commitments that, in his view, could later be abandoned after being signed.

 

Asked about the possibility of direct talks with Washington, Pezeshkian said no decision could be made under the current circumstances and described rebuilding trust as an important condition for any future negotiations.

 

“Iran has never been an aggressor,” Pezeshkian said, arguing that there was no example over the past several centuries of Iran initiating an attack on another country.

 

Iran Ready to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz Route

Pezeshkian said Iran had reached an understanding with Oman on a framework for establishing a safe maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz.

 

According to the Iranian president, foreign ministers from regional countries are due to meet in Oman to discuss the route, with the outcome to be communicated to the international organization responsible for maritime affairs.

 

He said maritime traffic could remain open within the framework of international law, provided that the United States stopped its military attacks and actions against Iran.

 

Pezeshkian stressed that blocking maritime routes and imposing sanctions would not force Iran to surrender, adding that Tehran could use alternative routes to maintain trade and economic ties.

 

Tehran Calls for Regional Security Cooperation

Pezeshkian also stressed the need for greater cooperation among regional countries, saying Iran was not at war with Saudi Arabia and that regional states should work toward establishing a common security and economic framework.

 

He said political and religious differences should not turn into war among regional countries, adding that Iran, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan and other states could reach agreements on security and economic cooperation while maintaining their political and ideological differences.

 

Russia and China Are ‘Friends and Neighbors’ of Iran

Asked about Russian and Chinese support for Iran, Pezeshkian said the two countries were friends and neighbors of Tehran and that Iran maintained close relations with both.

 

He stressed that what had enabled Iran to withstand pressure was not simply military equipment or technology, but what he described as “unity, solidarity and cohesion” inside the country.

 

Pezeshkian: Iran’s Supreme Leader Is Alive and Continues His Work

 

At the end of the interview, the Iranian president rejected reports about the condition of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, saying that he was alive and continuing his duties.

 

Pezeshkian said Iran had a clear leadership structure and that final decisions on major national issues were made by the Supreme Leader.

 

He also stressed that Tehran would not allow external pressure or military action to divert Iran from its course.