“The enemy had assessed that Iran would fall and become like Venezuela. Not only did that not happen, but Iran became so powerful that the world marveled at its steadfastness, solidarity and cohesion,” Pezeshkian said.

Speaking at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, on the first day of Government Week on Sunday, the president acknowledged the immense pressures facing the country while expressing pride in the nation’s resilience.

He added that analysts cannot find an explanation for how the Iranian nation, in the words of the martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was “resurrected” in such a manner.

Pezeshkian urges national unity

The president declared that Iran is engaged in a “full-scale economic war” imposed by the enemy, calling on the nation to unite and support one another just as they did during the Sacred Defense era of the 1980-88 war imposed on Iran by the Iraqi Ba’thist regime.

“Just as during the Sacred Defense, everyone must be on the scene and help one another,” he said.

“We are facing these hardships with all our being, but we are ashamed that problems persist because we are in a full-scale economic, military and security war,” the president said.

He referred to US President Donald Trump’s recent threats of imposing “the most horrific sanctions” on Iran, stating, “We have stood firm and are trying to serve the people in the face of this unequal war.”

Pezeshkian highlighted the enemy’s open efforts to isolate Iran internationally, saying, “When the enemy openly says it is negotiating with Muslim governments not to deal with us to force our surrender, what clearer statement could there be? We must recognize that we are in a full-scale war.”

The president expressed gratitude to his cabinet members, noting that since the government took office, Iran has faced continuous war, sanctions, pressure, and assassinations, alongside numerous internal imbalances.

Path to memorandum of understanding

Addressing the recent memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, signed on June 17, the president said the agreement was the result of a “technical consensus” among all those who had a hand in the matter.

“What happened in the process of the MoU, after lengthy discussions and negotiations, was a technical consensus of all those who had a stake in the matter: fighters who fought on the battlefield, managers who safeguarded the country’s security, and executives who implemented the decisions,” he stated.

“If we stood firm and did not bow to the enemy, it was because of these individuals. They were the ones who sat together and reached a framework, finding it aligned with ‘expediency, dignity and wisdom.’ Those who deny this either do not understand the details or have no hand in the matter.”

Pezeshkian’s remarks come amid the ongoing US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, which began on February 28, with joint strikes that assassinated the Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and targeted nuclear facilities, schools, and hospitals.

Iran’s armed forces have responded with waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4.

A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire and a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed in June aimed to lay the groundwork for a permanent peace deal, but Washington repeatedly violated the agreement, reimposing oil sanctions and continuing military strikes.