AhlulBayt News Agency: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that during the recent 12-day conflict, Iran’s armed forces acted in legitimate self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter to protect the nation’s sovereignty, people, and territorial integrity. He warned that failure to respond to Israeli aggression could have triggered a broader, uncontrollable regional war.
Speaking via videoconference at the Eurasian Summit on Friday, Pezeshkian said that since June 13, the Zionist regime had launched violent and unlawful attacks against Iran, even as indirect nuclear negotiations with the U.S. were ongoing.
He emphasized that the joint military strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities were a clear violation of international law and severely undermined the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime.
The president noted that Israel’s attacks included illegal operations targeting off-duty military personnel, academics, and civilians. He said many civilians were killed or injured in strikes on homes, infrastructure, hospitals, and healthcare centers.
Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran’s military response was a lawful act of self-defense. He stressed that ignoring such aggression would have led to a dangerous escalation across the region.
He called on the international community—especially the UN Security Council and the IAEA—to take a firmer stance against aggressors and those who fuel conflict.
The president urged an end to the policy of appeasement toward the Zionist regime, which he said repeatedly violates human rights and international norms.
He thanked countries that condemned the attacks and encouraged summit participants to issue a united and strong condemnation of the aggression and its global implications.
Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to being a reliable economic partner in the region. He highlighted the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union as a key step toward deeper regional cooperation.
He expressed gratitude for Iran’s observer status in the Union, which allows for broader participation in economic initiatives.
In the area of transit, he outlined plans to modernize rail and road networks, enhance air transport, and develop joint economic zones, using Iranian ports to connect member states to global markets.
In the energy sector, he emphasized cooperation between producers and consumers and the integration of regional energy systems.
Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of building infrastructure for digital technologies, AI regulation, and resisting unilateralism to boost collective technological capacity.
He concluded that full benefits of the Free Trade Agreement depend on developing independent, sanctions-resistant banking systems. He proposed using national currencies and financing joint projects through the Eurasian Development Bank.
The president closed by expressing confidence that regional integration can lead to shared prosperity, stating that the future belongs to nations that build trust and cooperation.
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