'Sought to turn Iran into Venezuela...': Pezeshkian lauds Iranian resistance against US attacks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday claimed that the United States had expected Iran to collapse rapidly under military and economic pressure, but said the country's resistance and internal cohesion had frustrated those calculations. Addressing members of his government, Pezeshkian said Washington had anticipated an outcome similar to Venezuela, but Iran had instead demonstrated resilience in the face of sustained pressure. He argued that the country's response had surprised its adversaries and strengthened perceptions of Iranian unity.

His remarks came as Iran faces another escalation in its confrontation with Washington, with new US sanctions looming after months of military hostilities and an increasingly severe economic squeeze.

‘Full-scale war’

Pezeshkian characterised Iran's present situation as a conflict extending far beyond the battlefield, saying the country was simultaneously confronting economic, military and security pressures.

He acknowledged the difficulties facing ordinary Iranians and said his government was conscious of the economic problems confronting the country. At the same time, he maintained that external pressure had failed to produce the political collapse anticipated by Iran's adversaries.

The Iranian president said the government would continue working to overcome domestic problems while resisting attempts to exploit economic hardship to create divisions within society.

Pezeshkian argued that maintaining national cohesion was critical, alleging that Iran's opponents hoped worsening economic conditions would deepen social divisions and weaken the state from within.

Venezuela comparison

The reference to Venezuela comes against the backdrop of the US intervention there earlier this year. Pezeshkian's argument was that Washington expected its military campaign and economic pressure on Tehran to produce a similarly rapid political breakdown.

“The opponent thought that Iran would also collapse like Venezuela. But that did not happen,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran's resistance and solidarity had instead surprised the international community.

His remarks reflect Tehran's broader narrative that surviving the initial phase of the US-Israel military campaign demonstrated the country's ability to withstand attempts to destabilise its political system.

Sanctions pressure intensifies

The comments come at a particularly difficult economic moment for Tehran. Washington is preparing another round of sanctions intended to intensify pressure on Iran, while months of conflict have already placed considerable strain on the country's economy.

The US and Iran remain locked in confrontation nearly six months after American and Israeli strikes on Iran began in February. Although major military operations have paused at different points, diplomatic efforts have failed to produce a durable settlement.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a central source of tension, with disruption to oil movements through the strategically important waterway adding an international economic dimension to the conflict.

Pezeshkian keeps diplomacy open

Despite his defiant assessment of Iran's resistance, Pezeshkian has also been advocating a diplomatic route out of the confrontation.

The Iranian president has backed efforts to reach an understanding with Washington, arguing that ending the conflict without sacrificing Iran's national dignity could help stabilise the economy and create space for investment.

That position has exposed differences within Iran's political establishment, where some hardline figures have opposed concessions and criticised calls for renewed engagement with the United States.

Pezeshkian's latest remarks therefore carried two messages: a claim that Iran had successfully resisted attempts to force its collapse, and an acknowledgement that prolonged economic and military confrontation continues to impose serious costs.

For Tehran, the immediate challenge is to preserve the unity Pezeshkian praised while dealing with mounting economic pressure and determining whether the confrontation with Washington can eventually be shifted from military and economic coercion back towards negotiations.