President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran does not seek war but will respond decisively to any act of aggression against its territory, stressing that instability in the region harms all countries, as he departed Tehran for Kyrgyzstan to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
“We are not seeking war, and this is a clear message we have sent to the world. However, we will never stand idly by in the face of any aggression and will give a decisive response to the aggressors,” the president said early Monday as he headed to Bishkek for the SCO Summit 2026.
He stressed that instability in West Asia does not benefit any country and will create challenges for all. “Therefore, we must join hands and work together to ensure the security, economic prosperity, and development of the region.”
At the SCO Summit, Pezeshkian said the gathering is of great importance as it brings together heads of state from various countries at a time when some international institutions are working toward unilateralism.
“The [SCO] meeting stands as a symbol of the existence of diverse and independent voices on the global stage at a time when some international institutions are seeking to create a single-voice environment in the world,” said the president.
Pezeshkian expressed hope that the SCO summit and bilateral meetings held on the sidelines would help improve security and political and economic conditions in the region and bring good achievements for all participating countries.
Late on Sunday, the Iranian Armed Forces launched missile attacks on two US military bases in Jordan in response to Washington’s strikes on Larak Island hours earlier.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the US strikes killed several civilians and members of the Armed Forces, adding that Iran acted in accordance with its inherent right to legitimate self-defense.
