Pezeshkian made the remarks on Monday morning before leaving Tehran for Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to attend the 26th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Highlighting the importance of the summit, the Iranian president said while some international institutions are seeking to create a “single-voice environment” in the world, the SCO summit represents the existence of diverse and independent voices on the global stage.
Pezeshkian emphasized the ancient history and civilizations of the countries in the region, saying the peoples of the region have lived together, maintained relations and developed alongside one another for thousands of years.
“Peace, security, economy and civilization have emerged from this land,” he said, stressing that regional countries should work to continue and expand this process in the contemporary world.
The president also highlighted the close connection between stability, growth, peace and development in the region, expressing hope that constructive dialogue at the summit would demonstrate the ability of regional leaders to manage their own affairs.
Pezeshkian then issued a warning to aggressors, making clear Iran’s position on war and aggression.
“We are not looking for war, and this is a clear message that we have announced to the world so far,” he said. “But in the face of any aggression, we will never remain passive and will give a decisive response to the aggressors.”
He warned that instability and unrest in the region would benefit none of the countries and would instead create challenges for all of them.
“Therefore, we must join hands and work to ensure the security, economy and development of the region,” Pezeshkian said.
The Iranian president expressed hope that the SCO summit would produce positive outcomes, saying the participation of most regional leaders and bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the gathering could contribute to the region’s security, economic and political processes.