Iran's president asserts defensive right in conflict with US, Israel

2026-03-16 - 21:42

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated Monday that his country bears no responsibility for igniting the current military confrontation with the United States and Israel, asserting Tehran's inherent right to defend its territory against foreign aggression. The remarks come as hostilities between the rival nations continue across the region without signs of de-escalation. Macron informed of Tehran's position In a statement shared on the X platform, Pezeshkian detailed his telephone discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which he conveyed Iran's stance on the conflict. "I emphasized that Iran did not begin this atrocious war. Defending against invasion is a natural right, in which we are good at," the Iranian leader stated. He further called for an end to what he described as the use of American military installations in the region to undermine Tehran's relations with neighboring countries. International community urged to intervene Pezeshkian challenged the global community to formally condemn the offensive launched by Washington and Tel Aviv, arguing that regional stability cannot be achieved while ignoring attacks on Iranian soil. "Commencing a war in order to conquer, based on false information, is a medieval act in 21st century," he said, dismissing calls for ceasefire as "meaningless" without guarantees against future aggression. The Iranian president reaffirmed his nation's refusal to capitulate to what he termed "bullies." Regional military dynamics continue The joint US-Israeli campaign, initiated on Feb. 28, has resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties in Iran, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran has conducted drone and missile strikes targeting what it identifies as American military assets across Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, with some operations affecting civilian infrastructure including airports and port facilities.