Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Tehran will not bow down in the face of Washington’s diplomatic pressure and military maneuvers. He made these remarks on Saturday (February 21) during a ceremony honoring Iran’s Paralympic team. In a speech broadcast live on state television, Pezeshkian stated, “Global powers are uniting to make us bow our heads. But no matter how many problems they create for us, we will not surrender.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian government has once again blamed “terrorists” for the thousands of deaths during recent nationwide protests. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that a list of over 3,000 deceased individuals has been released, including approximately 200 members of the security forces. However, US President Donald Trump claims the death toll from the movement is around 32,000. In response, the Pezeshkian administration has challenged Trump to provide proper evidence to support his claims.

Beyond the realm of diplomacy, tensions between Washington and Tehran are shifting toward military preparations. Reports indicate that US military aircraft have been deployed to the Lajes Air Base in the Azores, Portugal. The United States has stated it is considering limited military strikes on Iran if necessary. Simultaneously, the Pentagon is reportedly withdrawing hundreds of US troops from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Local media suggests this move is a precaution to shield personnel from potential Iranian retaliatory strikes.

On the other hand, Iran has also stepped up its efforts to thwart any potential US military action. Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, commander of the country’s ground forces, stated that the high state of alert within the armed forces is the primary tool to deter any enemy operation or miscalculation. He added that Tehran is fully prepared to face any threat. In a counter-warning, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, reminded the international community of Iran’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Source: Reuters, AFP