Iran (IMNA) - Speaking on Thursday at a ceremony in Tehran commemorating the anniversary of the assassination of senior resistance figures, including Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, Pezeshkian said Iran would not be intimidated by threats, pressure, or targeted killings and would stay committed to its chosen course.
“We are not afraid of martyrdom, and for our nation, our revolution and our country we are ready for any sacrifice,” Pezeshkian told attendees at Tehran’s Mosalla prayer complex. “We will stand with strength on this path until the end.”
General Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, was assassinated in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.
Warning Iran’s adversaries against relying on threats of death or assassination as a tool of pressure, the president said such tactics would not weaken the country’s resolve. “Our treacherous and oppressive enemies should not think they can frighten us with martyrdom,” he said, stressing that Iran would continue the “path of the dear martyrs” through perseverance and sustained efforts to address the problems faced by ordinary citizens.
Pezeshkian described General Soleimani as a singular and lasting role model, praising his ethical, social, and military conduct. He said the slain commander was devoted to justice, unity, and the defense of the oppressed, qualities that earned him respect far beyond Iran’s borders.
“Martyr Soleimani was a supporter of the oppressed, of truth and of justice,” Pezeshkian said. “He worked without claim, without name and without expectation. Ethnically or socially, no one was different to him.”
Addressing a large crowd, the president said the strong turnout reflected a shared determination to preserve the legacy of General Soleimani and other figures martyred in US and Israeli acts of aggression. “We pledge that we will continue this path with all our strength and will not allow it to be abandoned,” he said. “We stand against oppressors and will not bow.”
Pezeshkian also criticized the United States and Israel for what he described as “state terrorism” carried out under the banner of democracy and freedom. He cited the assassination of General Soleimani, his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, as well as Iranian scientists and military commanders. “Today, the United States and the Israeli regime, in the name of civilization, democracy and freedom, commit state assassinations,” he said. “They target elites and free people around the world.”
In this context, Iran’s ambassador to Iraq has said the US assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani was aimed at dismantling the security architecture of the resistance axis.
Reiterating his administration’s broader approach, Pezeshkian said his government would follow General Soleimani’s emphasis on unity and cohesion across ethnic and social lines. He stressed that national solidarity and adherence to the guidance of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei are essential to resisting external pressure.
Turning to domestic issues, the president said protecting people’s livelihoods is a “red line” for his government as the country continues to face economic strain and external sanctions. “We consider it our duty to work with all our strength to solve the problems of the people,” he said, calling for collective efforts to ensure economic stability, justice, and social resilience.
Pezeshkian concluded by saying that while the challenges confronting Iran are serious, unity, perseverance, and a commitment to social justice will enable the country to confront both internal difficulties and external pressure.
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