Iranian President Emphasizes Justice, Unity Amid Protests

(MENAFN) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday emphasized the country’s duty to pursue justice as a shield against those seeking to harm the Iranian people both domestically and internationally, while stressing the need to differentiate peaceful protests from efforts aimed at dividing the nation.

“We are obligated to listen to peaceful protesters,” the president said, adding that “there are those who seek to ride the wave of protests in order to divide the nation,” according to reports.

He urged authorities to give citizens their sovereignty and involve them in decision-making, while remaining alert to attempts to turn demonstrations into acts of sedition.

Pezeshkian highlighted that “sworn enemies, including the Israeli regime and its Western supporters, have consistently sought to incite unrest, create division, and fragment Iran.” He warned that those trying to manipulate social demands toward “violence, assassinations, and the destruction of public property,” including attacks on military forces and service facilities, “have no place in any norm of civil protest.”

The president added that authorities must review their conduct toward citizens to remove any pretext for those aiming to turn protests into hatred and incitement, stating that “sincere service to the people is the primary barrier against enemy infiltration.”

His remarks come amid rising tensions with Washington, following US President Donald Trump’s statements about a “massive armada” moving toward Iran and his call for Tehran to “come to the table” for negotiations. Iranian officials have warned that any US attack would prompt a “swift and comprehensive” response, while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as “fair, balanced and noncoercive terms.”

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