[[{"content_id":417478,"content_number":0,"portal_id":2,"lang_id":"en","content_title":"Pezeshkian urges nations to counter illegal US demands","content_rtitr":"","content_short_title":null,"content_summary":"President Masoud Pezeshkian called on world nations to confront Washington's illegal demands in a letter to Pope Leo XIV.","content_summary_fill":1,"content_body":"In the letter, Pezeshkian said the U.S.-Israeli aggression launched on February 28, 2026, resulted in the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, senior political and military figures, and 3,468 citizens, with massive damage to schools, universities, hospitals, religious sites, and infrastructure &mdash; acts he described as clear war crimes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nQuoting both Quranic and Biblical passages condemning arrogance, he praised the Pope&#39;s &quot;moral, logical and fair positions&quot; on the attack, which occurred during ongoing negotiations based on false pretexts. He said the U.S. president&#39;s stated intent to &quot;destroy Iran&#39;s historic civilization&quot; revealed an illusion of absolute power.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPezeshkian stressed that Iran&#39;s diverse religious communities have coexisted peacefully for centuries and that Iran has never threatened its neighbors. However, the use of U.S. bases in Persian Gulf littoral states for attacks compelled Iranian forces to strike aggressor interests there in legitimate self-defense.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOn the Strait of Hormuz, he said current insecurity stems directly from illegal U.S. attacks and the naval blockade. Normal transit will resume once insecurity is lifted, with Iran applying regulatory mechanisms under international law.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHe reaffirmed Iran&#39;s commitment to diplomacy and Pakistan-mediated talks, despite repeated U.S. betrayals. &quot;Iran&#39;s stand against the illegal demands of the U.S. government is a stand in defense of international law and lofty human values,&quot; he wrote, urging a realistic and fair international response.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPezeshkian concluded by reiterating Iran&#39;s commitment to dialogue and peaceful, lawful, ethical resolution of disputes.","content_html":"<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">In the letter, Pezeshkian said the U.S.-Israeli aggression launched on February 28, 2026, resulted in the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, senior political and military figures, and 3,468 citizens, with massive damage to schools, universities, hospitals, religious sites, and infrastructure &mdash; acts he described as clear war crimes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Quoting both Quranic and Biblical passages condemning arrogance, he praised the Pope&#39;s &quot;moral, logical and fair positions&quot; on the attack, which occurred during ongoing negotiations based on false pretexts. He said the U.S. president&#39;s stated intent to &quot;destroy Iran&#39;s historic civilization&quot; revealed an illusion of absolute power.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Pezeshkian stressed that Iran&#39;s diverse religious communities have coexisted peacefully for centuries and that Iran has never threatened its neighbors. However, the use of U.S. bases in Persian Gulf littoral states for attacks compelled Iranian forces to strike aggressor interests there in legitimate self-defense.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">On the Strait of Hormuz, he said current insecurity stems directly from illegal U.S. attacks and the naval blockade. Normal transit will resume once insecurity is lifted, with Iran applying regulatory mechanisms under international law.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">He reaffirmed Iran&#39;s commitment to diplomacy and Pakistan-mediated talks, despite repeated U.S. betrayals. &quot;Iran&#39;s stand against the illegal demands of the U.S. government is a stand in defense of international law and lofty human values,&quot; he wrote, urging a realistic and fair international response.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:16px;\">Pezeshkian concluded by reiterating Iran&#39;s commitment to dialogue and peaceful, lawful, ethical resolution of disputes.<\/span><\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_date_start":"2026-05-16 15:25:03","content_date_event":"2026-05-16 15:25:03","content_date_event_start":null,"content_date_event_end":null,"content_show_title_slider":1,"content_date_last_edit":"2026-05-16 15:27:17","content_date_register":"2026-05-16 15:27:17","content_columns":0,"content_show_img":1,"content_show_details":0,"content_show_related_img":0,"content_show_slider":1,"content_comment":1,"content_score":0,"tag_id":0,"score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"uid":43,"eid":0,"attach_title":"In the letter, Pezeshkian said the U.S.-Israeli aggression launched on February 28, 2026, resulted in the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, senior political and military figures, and 3,468 citizens, with massive damage to schools, universities, hospita","attaches":[{"sizes":{"150":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680_150_105.webp","300":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680_300_210.webp","400":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680_400_281.webp","600":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680_600_421.webp","900":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680_750_526.jpg","1200":".\/cache\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680_750_526.jpg"},"ext":"jpg","file_media":1,"token":2411839680,"files":{"original":{"url":".\/file\/2\/attach\/202605\/570034_2411839680.jpg","width":750,"height":526,"size":0}}}]}]]