Overview
- President Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks at a Tehran ceremony, saying Iran must leave a prolonged 'neither war nor peace' posture to break a diplomatic deadlock.
- Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has given the government clear authorization to pursue negotiations, a notable public disclosure about Iran’s foreign‑policy direction.
- He stressed that Iran does not seek war but will never surrender if attacked and will not compromise its sovereignty or national dignity.
- The president called for national unity to resist external pressure and argued that military coercion alone cannot force a country to submit, citing examples of past conflicts.
- The comments could open a path to talks while preserving Iran’s deterrent posture and should be watched for any concrete follow‑up on negotiation partners, scope, and timelines.