Iranian president says country acted in self-defense, did not start war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his country did not start the war in February, explaining that the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran while negotiations with Washington were ongoing.

Speaking at the International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, he said: "We did not start the war and we defended ourselves."

He added that Iran is not weak and knows how to defend itself, stressing that defending the country is a legitimate right and not hostility toward neighboring states. Pezeshkian noted that Iranian authorities have exercised this right.