In comments at a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Iran wants friendly and brotherly countries to maintain their ties, but Washington is seeking to turn them against one another.

“The US wants us, as friendly and brotherly countries, to become enemies of one another,” he said, stressing that Iran’s demand is simply for its “international rights” to be respected.

Pezeshkian attributed the region’s instability to the US and Europe’s pursuit of domination and the crimes committed by the Israeli regime, saying they do not want independent countries to exist in the region.

Referring to the US and Israeli actions during the recent war of aggression against Iran, the president said Iran had been attacked without justification and that its Leader, children, commanders and scientists were martyred. He said it was particularly unjustifiable that the attacks were launched from brotherly and Muslim countries, whose territory was used to launch aircraft against Iran.

Pezeshkian said Iran had no choice but to defend itself and therefore targeted military bases belonging to the attackers in neighboring countries.

Emphasizing the Islamic Republic’s peaceful approach, the president said Iran does not seek war or its continuation despite the injustices inflicted on its people. He stressed that Iran wants its rights to be respected and “unjust sanctions” to be lifted.

“We will never surrender,” Pezeshkian said, stressing that Iran would defend the rights of its people with all its capabilities.

The president described solidarity among Muslim countries as essential under the current circumstances, saying the region does not need a “regional gendarme” and that territorial integrity and security can be ensured only by the region’s main actors and countries.

Anwar Ibrahim, for his part, condemned the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, saying Malaysia had clearly stated its position from the outset and that the Malaysian parliament had strongly condemned the aggression against Iran. He stressed that Iran’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are highly respected by Malaysia.

The Malaysian prime minister praised the Iranian nation’s resistance to the aggression, saying the steadfastness of Iran’s government and people was commendable. He added that another country might have been defeated in less than three days, but Iran had stood firm and defended its rights.

Anwar Ibrahim also welcomed plans to expand bilateral relations, saying Malaysia is committed to strengthening ties with Iran and would examine ways to develop cooperation in trade, economic affairs, education and other areas.