Iran will not bow to US, Israel, Pezeshkian warns from Delhi

As tensions simmer in West Asia, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a sharp warning to the United States and Israel from the Indian capital. Pezeshkian, who is on a three-day visit to India for the 18th BRICS summit, was speaking at a special event before religious leaders, academics, thinkers and business figures. He said clearly that Iran would not tolerate bullying or coercion from anyone.

"The United States and Israel are trying to pressure us, but Iran will never bow before them. If they try to push us back, we will answer them with equal strength," he said. He added that while Iran wanted peace and coexistence in the Gulf region, it would not hesitate to take firm steps to protect its sovereignty and national interests.

Pezeshkian levelled a serious charge that the United States and Israel were attacking ordinary people, hospitals and infrastructure instead of the military. Citing an alleged attack on a school in southern Iran, he said, "They talk about human rights and freedom, but in reality they are taking the lives of innocent civilians and scientists." He said the United States believed shortages of essential goods and economic sanctions would break the will of the Iranian people, but the Iranian people had never bowed before anyone. He also warned that the current actions of the United States and Israel were like riding a horse without reins, and that this frenzy would ultimately lead to their own destruction.

On the first day of his India visit, Pezeshkian met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting included detailed discussion on the tense situation in West Asia and on strengthening ties between the two countries. Pezeshkian described the meeting as very fruitful and positive. The talks focused on strengthening partnership in trade, technology, culture, energy security and agriculture. The two sides also reaffirmed the importance of making progress on the development of Chabahar port, which connects India to Central Asia and Europe, and on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Pezeshkian called for finding an alternative to the dominance of the US dollar in the global economy. "Economic security is linked to national and regional security. To counter economic sanctions imposed by Western countries, BRICS nations must increase trade in their own local currencies," he said. He also said Iran's abundant energy resources and strategic location could play an important role in strengthening the food and energy supply chains of BRICS countries.