Iranian president says country ‘won’t surrender’ as he accuses US of targeting civilians

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed his country would not yield to the US and Israel, striking a defiant tone as fighting threatened two of the Middle East’s most critical shipping routes.

“Iran has successfully stood against Israel and the US,” Pezeshkian said late Friday while addressing a gathering of religious leaders in New Delhi.

“Since we are seeking truth and justice, we will not yield in front of bullying arrogance.”

The Iranian leader also accused the US of targeting civilians.

“If Americans are warriors, let them face our valiant military forces,” Pezeshkian wrote on X.

“Why wage war on civilian infrastructure, food supplies, and livelihoods?”

“If they’re human, why deny people access to water, food, and medicine?” he continued.

“Our people can’t be bullied into submission. Iran won’t surrender.”

The Iranian leader’s remarks came ahead of the weekend BRICS Summit in India and days after President Trump defended Washington’s military campaign against Tehran.

“If I had it to do again, I would do exactly what I did,” Trump said Thursday, arguing Iran posed a threat to Israel, the Middle East and US cities.

Pezeshkian’s tough talk came as Iran simultaneously engaged in a burst of diplomacy over a conflict that has increasingly threatened global energy supplies and maritime trade.

Iran and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday backed a joint BRICS declaration expressing “deep concern” over the continued escalation in the Middle East and urging restraint, even as relations between the two countries have deteriorated during the war.

Pezeshkian also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed on the sidelines of the summit, as regional governments sought to prevent the fighting from spreading further.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Pezeshkian on Friday, underscored the need to protect seafarers, maintain freedom of navigation and safeguard maritime commerce.

Modi also reiterated India’s call for resolving the conflict through “dialogue and diplomacy.”

The push for diplomacy comes as Iran prepares for talks in Oman on Monday over the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial traffic has been severely disrupted during the war.

But a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Saturday that the Oman meeting was not expected to produce a signed agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil-shipping chokepoints.

Tehran is seeking a greater role in managing passage through the strait, including the ability to collect fees from vessels.

Riyadh temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack targeted the critical conduit, which allows Saudi crude to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and reach export facilities on the Red Sea.

Saudi officials said the drones were launched from Iraqi territory but stopped short of publicly blaming Iran. Trump said Saturday that he believed Iran was “probably” responsible for the attack.

Saudi Arabia said it would not retaliate immediately, giving Baghdad an opportunity to prevent further attacks originating from Iraqi territory.

Brent crude settled Friday at $104.61 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate finished at $100.05 — up roughly 18% and 21%, respectively, from Aug. 14.