Pezeshkian made the remarks during a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Ali Falih al-Zaidi, describing the Iraqi nation as not merely a neighbor but a “brother.”
Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s principled approach toward regional cooperation, saying Tehran remains fully prepared to reach agreements with Muslim countries in the region, formulate shared regulations, and resolve all disputes —whether in the Persian Gulf or elsewhere in the region— through dialogue.
He said such an approach could remove the grounds for war and unrest and pave the way for lasting regional stability and cooperation.
The Iranian president also reiterated Tehran’s commitment to supporting Baghdad and strengthening bilateral ties based on mutual respect and understanding.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian denounced the contradictory US policies, saying Washington simultaneously pursues a campaign of maximum pressure while calling for negotiations.
He stressed that Iran would never surrender to unilateral demands or coercion, emphasizing that Iran’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and that Tehran has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons due to the religious decree prohibiting such arms.
At the same time, he underlined that Iran would not abandon its scientific and technological achievements under pressure.
Pezeshkian also said Iran would never submit to intimidation or military threats, particularly those stemming from American military bases deployed across the region.
He called on the US to halt its threatening approach, saying the followers of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) household cannot be forced into submission through pressure or force.
The Iranian president further invited al-Zaidi to Tehran for his first official visit in order to finalize agreements and expand bilateral cooperation.
For his part, Iraq’s prime minister-designate described Iran and Iraq as “two bodies with one soul” and pledged to elevate cooperation between the two neighboring countries in the economic, political, and security fields.
Al-Zaidi described Iran as Iraq’s strategic depth and said the Islamic Republic’s strength, particularly in the fight against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, has served as an important pillar for the Muslim world.
He also expressed Iraq’s readiness to host negotiations between Iran and the US aimed at ending tensions, describing such mediation as both a religious and political responsibility.
According to al-Zaidi, disputes and confrontations must ultimately be resolved through dialogue because continued conflict cannot endure indefinitely.