Iranian President Praises Armed Forces for Crushing Zionist Aggression

Speaking at the 17th ECO Summit in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that during twelve days of brutal aggression, the Zionist entity, aided by the American military machine, launched criminal attacks targeting Iranian military personnel outside their mission sites, university scholars, ordinary civilians, and peaceful nuclear facilities under international supervision.

He said the campaign caused extensive human casualties and material losses.

Pezeshkian stressed that the illegitimate Israeli regime’s operation flagrantly violated the core principles of international law, including Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, and was carried forward with the complicity of the aggressor American military.

He emphasized that Iran’s armed forces, exercising their inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter, safeguarded the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while preventing the escalation of regional war.

Expressing gratitude to regional countries and ECO member states for their principled positions, he noted that numerous international bodies, including the recent OIC foreign ministers’ meeting, issued firm condemnations of Israeli attack against Iran.

Pezeshkian urged the 17th ECO Summit to echo this collective denunciation and to expose the regional and global perils stemming from Zionist belligerence.

Turning to economic issues, he lamented that the ECO 2025 vision fell short of targets due to various obstacles, including pandemics.

He underlined the importance of reviving the spirit of regional solidarity rooted in the 1964 founding of the ECO by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey.

He called for swift negotiations to establish a free trade zone by 2035, arguing that the obsolete ECOTA agreement cannot meet the region’s pressing needs.

On transit cooperation, Pezeshkian said landlocked ECO members must gain reliable and affordable access to open seas through Iranian and regional corridors.

He also proposed creating an ECO artificial intelligence center to ensure technological sovereignty against transnational tech monopolies.

Highlighting tourism’s untapped potential, he urged the launch of direct flights among ECO members and digital visa systems to tighten regional bonds.

Pezeshkian further stressed the imperative of building collective resilience to pandemics, energy insecurity, natural disasters, and other similar threats.

He concluded by reaffirming Iran’s readiness to host the 18th ECO Summit, underscoring the Islamic Republic’s commitment to strengthening regional unity.