Tehran: President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised the Iranian people for maintaining national unity amid an unequal military, economic and security confrontation, saying the country's resilience had surprised the world and frustrated its enemies' plans. Speaking at the beginning of Government Week on Sunday, the president said Iran had faced continuous war, sanctions, pressure, and assassinations since his administration took office in July 2024. He said adversaries had expected Iran to collapse under pressure, but the country instead demonstrated greater strength, solidarity, and resilience.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Pezeshkian pointed to statements by US President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of the most severe sanctions on Iran, saying Tehran had remained committed to serving its people and overcoming the economic difficulties. Pezeshkian said the recent memorandum of understanding reached after lengthy discussions reflected an expert consensus among military personnel, security officials, and government authorities. He said the framework was based on the principles of expediency, dignity, and wisdom, emphasizing that Iran's resistance had been made possible by cooperation among institutions and society.
He also said Iran's adversaries are pursuing an economic war alongside military and security pressure. According to President Pezeshkian, foreign pressure has included efforts to persuade Muslim governments not to conduct economic transactions with Iran in an attempt to force Tehran into submission. He stressed that the confrontation should not be viewed solely as an exchange of missiles, arguing that economic pressure and attempts to undermine Iran's internal cohesion were also components of the broader conflict. He praised Iranian citizens, including those critical of the government, for standing together during the crisis.
He called for national unity and coordinated decision-making, saying Iran's strength depends on solidarity, consultation, expertise, and adherence to national leadership. He argued that once a decision is reached through proper discussion, all sides should support and implement it consistently. The president also warned that Iran's adversaries were seeking to exploit economic and social difficulties to create divisions inside the country. He pledged that the government would work to prevent polarization and address inflation and livelihood concerns despite external pressure.
He called for a nationwide effort to overcome the country's challenges, saying Iran needs practical action, not advice. President Pezeshkian thanked the Armed Forces and the Iranian people for their resilience and vowed to continue serving the country while defending national dignity and unity.