Iran will never surrender even if current ceasefire agreements are shattered, President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Wednesday. His remarks follow a major escalation in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump ordered fresh airstrikes on multiple targets inside Iran.
"War is never in our interest," Pezeshkian said, according to a report by Middle East Eye. "However, if anyone believes Iran will surrender or retreat when our dignity, territory, and homeland are attacked, they are deeply mistaken."
Pezeshkian compared Iran's resilience to the situation in Gaza, noting that opposing forces "have been unable to force a small valley to surrender for three years." He argued that it is equally impossible to defeat Tehran.
The statements coincide with a sharp outbreak of direct conflict between Washington and Tehran. According to Al Jazeera, the US military launched targeted strikes late Wednesday (June 10). US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, stating it was conducted under the "directives" of President Trump in response to "Iran's unprovoked and continued aggression."
In response, Tehran claimed it launched retaliatory strikes against US military installations across the region—specifically targeting bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan—alongside attacks on two commercial vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
