Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday declared that his country would not surrender to “bullying” by the United States and Israel, vowing to protect Iran’s national interests as escalating hostilities and fresh American strikes deepen the crisis in West Asia.
Addressing a gathering of religious leaders, intellectuals, academics and business figures in New Delhi, Pezeshkian said Iran favoured peaceful coexistence but would firmly resist external pressure and attempts to create divisions within Iranian society. “We will not surrender to oppression. Iran is standing up to Israel and the US because we will not be bullied, and if they push us, we will push them back,” he said.
Pezeshkian targets US, Israel
The Iranian President accused the US and Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure and livelihoods, describing their forces as the “real militants”. He referred to a US strike near a primary school in southern Iran that, according to Tehran, killed 168 children.
“They should take on our soldiers instead of targeting hospitals, infrastructure and livelihoods. They think people will surrender because of the lack of supplies but the people of Iran will not surrender,” Pezeshkian said.
His remarks came amid a fresh escalation in West Asia, with renewed US airstrikes on Iranian targets and Washington seeking to intensify economic pressure on Tehran through sanctions.
Pezeshkian said the US and Israel were making “errors like someone riding a wild horse without reining it in”, warning that their approach would ultimately prove destructive.
At the same time, he sought to frame Iran’s position around coexistence, saying countries and peoples had to find ways of living and working together despite their differences. Iran, he said, would continue supporting those it regarded as oppressed.
‘Nice talks’ with Modi
Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday for a three-day visit, primarily to participate in the BRICS Summit. Ahead of his public engagement, he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with discussions focusing on the situation in West Asia and the broader India-Iran relationship.
The Iranian President described his meeting with Modi as “nice talks” and said the discussions could pave the way for greater cooperation in trade, technology and culture.
Pezeshkian also pitched Iran as a strategic partner capable of contributing to regional energy and food security, highlighting the country’s large energy reserves and geographic position.
The gathering was also attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Patanjali Ayurved co-founder and managing director Acharya Balkrishna and Observer Research Foundation Director General Sujan R Chinoy.
Iran pitches strategic role in BRICS
Earlier, addressing the BRICS Business Forum, Pezeshkian called for greater use of national currencies in trade among members of the grouping and sought deeper integration in investment, commerce and joint financing.
He argued that Iran’s location, energy resources and transport networks positioned it to serve as an important connectivity bridge within BRICS.
Tehran has sought to use its membership of the expanded grouping to strengthen economic links with emerging economies as Western sanctions continue to constrain parts of its international trade and financial engagement.
Pezeshkian said BRICS needed to move beyond its economic potential and create a more integrated network connecting trade, investment and financing among member countries.
BRICS members back stronger national currencies
Separately, Araghchi described India as a “great emerging country” and expressed confidence in New Delhi’s leadership of BRICS during its current chairship.
“The BRICS is a very important institution and is playing a very important role. I am sure that India is able to lead the BRICS and the countries that are members of this group in an excellent way,” he said.
Araghchi acknowledged that BRICS members held differing views on several issues but said there was broad agreement on strengthening national currencies and increasing their use in intra-BRICS trade.
He added that the possibility of a single currency for trade among BRICS members remained under consideration.
Pezeshkian’s remarks in New Delhi combined a sharply defiant message towards Washington and Israel with an economic outreach to India and other BRICS members, as Tehran seeks diplomatic and commercial partnerships while confronting intensifying military and economic pressure.