Iran Will Resist Until ‘Aggressors Regret’ Attacks, President Pezeshkian Says
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Iran would continue resisting what it describes as aggression with full strength until the “aggressors” regret their actions, while insisting that Tehran has consistently opposed war and sought to avoid conflict.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in a post on social media platform X on September 8, adopting a firm tone as tensions surrounding Iran and the wider Gulf remain elevated.
The Iranian president said the Islamic Republic considers avoiding conflict important for protecting both the interests of its people and regional security.
However, he stressed that Iran would not retreat from defending itself when confronted with attacks.
Pezeshkian: Iran Has Always Opposed War
Pezeshkian sought to present Iran’s position as defensive rather than expansionist.
He said Iran has “always been against war” and believes the interests of the Iranian people and the security of the wider region are best protected by avoiding the outbreak or escalation of conflict.
At the same time, he made clear that Tehran believes avoiding war does not mean abandoning its right to respond to attacks.
According to Pezeshkian, Iran has defended itself against what it regards as aggression and intends to continue doing so.
The president said the country would maintain its resistance with strength until those responsible for the attacks were left regretting their actions.
Iran Says It Will Defend National Rights
Pezeshkian also framed Iran’s response around the protection of the Iranian population and national interests.
He pledged that Tehran would remain a defender of the rights of the Iranian people while continuing to resist external pressure and attacks.
The statement therefore contained two parallel messages: Iran says it does not seek war, but it is also signalling that it intends to maintain a forceful response to what it considers military aggression.
That distinction is important because Pezeshkian’s remarks should not be interpreted as a declaration that Iran is initiating a new war or announcing a specific new military operation.
No new strike or operational plan was announced in his statement.
Remarks Come After Renewed US-Iran Fighting
Pezeshkian’s warning comes against the backdrop of renewed military confrontation between Iran and the United States.
On September 1, US forces launched strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran after Washington accused Tehran of actions involving shipping and mines around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran subsequently retaliated, further escalating fears of a wider regional conflict.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had already used similarly forceful language following those attacks.
An IRGC spokesperson warned last week that the United States would regret its strikes and said severe punishment awaited those Iran considered responsible.
Pezeshkian’s latest statement brings that resistance-focused language directly into the Iranian presidency while retaining his emphasis that Tehran does not seek war.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Crisis
The broader confrontation has increasingly centred on the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically critical waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and international shipping routes.
Military activity and restrictions around the Strait have raised international concerns because disruption there can affect oil and gas exports from several major Gulf producers.
Iranian officials have repeatedly linked their security position in the waterway to the wider confrontation with Washington.
The IRGC said following the September 1 US strikes that attacks on Iran would strengthen its resolve regarding the Strait.
Continued instability has also contributed to volatility in global energy markets as traders assess the possibility of prolonged disruption to Gulf shipping.
Pezeshkian Balances Deterrence With Anti-War Message
The wording of Pezeshkian’s statement is significant because the Iranian president has generally emphasised diplomacy and opposition to an expanded regional war.
His latest remarks retain that position but pair it with an explicit warning that Iran will continue resisting attacks.
Pezeshkian did not identify a specific country by name in the statement quoted by Reuters, instead referring broadly to “aggressors.”
That makes it important not to rewrite his words as a direct declaration of a new attack on the United States or another country.
The statement is best understood as a political warning and declaration of Iran’s claimed right to self-defence rather than confirmation of a specific forthcoming military operation.
Regional Tensions Remain High
The Iranian president’s comments come as multiple conflicts and security crises overlap across the Middle East.
Recent US-Iran military exchanges, uncertainty surrounding Gulf shipping and attacks involving other regional actors have increased fears that separate confrontations could become interconnected.
Pezeshkian’s message suggests Tehran wants to maintain two positions simultaneously: presenting Iran as opposed to initiating war while warning its adversaries that continued attacks will face resistance.
Whether that rhetoric is followed by further military action will depend on developments on the ground and the responses of the United States and other regional actors.
For now, Pezeshkian’s central message is that Iran says it does not want war, but it will not stop defending itself against what Tehran regards as aggression.
