WANA (Sep 25) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a meeting with a group of anti-war activists in New York that while Iran desires peace and stability, it will never submit to coercion. He stressed that although the reimposition of sanctions is undesirable, it does not mark the end of the road, and Iran will not surrender in the face of pressure.

 

As part of his New York trip, Pezeshkian emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran pursues peace, justice, and fairness, saying: “If people respect each other’s rights and boundaries, no problems will arise.”

 

He underlined that as long as the “language of bullying” persists, meaningful dialogue is impossible. “Iran has never sought nuclear weapons. We do not reject dialogue, but true dialogue must be conducted without coercion and on equal footing,” he said.

 

Referring to the recent Israeli strike on Qatar during a ceasefire-related meeting, Pezeshkian said the attack proved that Tel Aviv respects no red lines or human rights principles.

 

He added: “Today, regional countries and much of the world understand better that the source of insecurity is not Iran, but the Zionist regime. Yet international organizations still fail to uphold their responsibilities. Israel commits crimes, while Iran is sanctioned—this is a clear example of the law of the jungle.”

 

Pezeshkian recalled America’s long-standing hostility toward Iran since the 1979 Revolution, noting: “The U.S. has always sought to create problems for Iran and to fuel insecurity and wars in the region. The Islamic Republic does not want conflict, but any aggression will be met with decisive and regretful retaliation.”

 

He stressed that no Iranian would ever surrender the country to its enemies, pointing to the recent 12-day war as a moment that reinforced national unity and cohesion.

 

Criticizing international institutions’ inability to address Israeli crimes, Pezeshkian said such acts are made possible by U.S. and Western support: “How can human conscience remain silent in the face of 65,000 defenseless civilians killed in Gaza? How can such barbaric crimes be justified in a world that claims to defend human rights?”

 

The president noted that Iran welcomes public diplomacy and exchanges between the Iranian and American people, but said it is Washington that blocks such ties. “While we were negotiating with the U.S., Israel attacked us with America’s green light. Who withdrew from the JCPOA? On what international principle is attacking Iran justified?”

 

He warned that arrogant powers commit aggression and label any act of resistance as terrorism: “Iran seeks peace and calm, but it will never yield to force. The return of sanctions is unpleasant, but it is not the end of the road. We will find a way forward. Today Iran enjoys not only strong bilateral ties with its neighbors but also regional and global capacities through organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the Eurasian Economic Union.”

 

During the session, anti-war activists shared their views, including criticism of world leaders’ “unrealistic and inconsistent” speeches at the UN General Assembly, calls for justice as the basis for real peace, objections to the U.S. president’s hostile rhetoric against Iran, emphasis on the need for direct Iran-U.S. dialogue, strengthening public diplomacy to counter anti-Iran propaganda in U.S. media, and the urgent necessity of effective deterrent measures to stop Israel’s crimes in Gaza.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a meeting with a group of anti-war activists in New York

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a meeting with a group of anti-war activists in New York. Social media/ WANA News Agency