Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would not surrender, adding that it had resisted aggression from the United States and Israel.
“Iran has succeeded in standing up to Israel and the United States,” Pezeshkian said late Friday, speaking at a gathering of Indian religious leaders in New Delhi. “We seek truth and justice and will not bow down in the face of arrogant bullies.”
Mr Pezeshkian’s comments, ahead of the BRICS summit in India over the weekend, followed claims by US President Donald Trump that if Washington had not taken military action against Iran, Iran would have annihilated Israel and the Middle East and started attacking US cities.
President Trump said Thursday: “If I had to do it again, I would do exactly what I did.”
Pezeshkian, who is on his first visit to India, also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. During the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi expressed concern about the safety of seafarers and stressed the need for peace and freedom of navigation and commerce.
Since the United States and Israel began their war against Iran on February 28, the movement of oil and other cargo through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran and Oman, has slowed to a trickle, leaving ships and sailors stranded for weeks or months at a time.
The Indian Prime Minister reiterated his appeal for the Middle East conflict to be resolved through “dialogue and diplomacy.”
global crude oil Prices have soared following the sharp escalation in fighting between the United States and Iran this month. Rising energy prices are a major concern for countries like India, which is a major energy importer.
India, the world’s fastest growing major economy, is one of the countries most vulnerable to supply disruptions caused by war. The South Asian country imports almost 85% of its fuel needs and relies on an energy supply chain that passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict in the Middle East has affected many Indian crew members. In July, two ships carrying a total of 30 Indian sailors were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Indian government, 10 sailors have lost their lives in the Middle East conflict.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Pezeshkian were photographed warmly holding hands as they left the BRICS Business Forum on Friday.
The Iranian embassy in India posted on X, praising the friendship between the two countries, saying, “When the leaders of two great countries join hands, we are reminded of the historic friendship between two great civilizations.”
