Iran's new President vows balance with all countries but warns U.S. his country won't be pressured
The Hindu
Iran's President Pezeshkian prioritizes strengthening relations with neighbors, supports Palestinian resistance, and criticizes Western countries and the U.S.
Iran's newly elected president said his government will create "balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”
Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message To The New World” in the country's state-owned Tehran Times late Friday, praising the latest presidential election that “demonstrated remarkable stability” and vowing to uphold “promises I made during my campaign.” '
Mr. Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, bested hard-liner former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili to clinch July 5's runoff election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.
He said in his message his administration would “prioritise strengthening relations with our neighbours” and urged Arab countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting cease-fire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that started October 7.
Iran has long supported the militant group Hamas, and Mr. Pezeshkian on Wednesday expressed his all-out support of “the Palestinian resistance” in a message to the group's chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Mr. Pezeshkian, in the letter Friday, hailed his country's relations with Russia and China which “consistently stood by us during challenging times.” He said Moscow was “a valued strategic ally” and his government would expand bilateral cooperation. He also expressed willingness to “support initiatives aimed at” achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war that entered its third year.
The President also said he looked forward to furthering cooperation with Beijing and applauded it for brokering a deal to normalise relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after seven years of diplomatic tensions.