Iran Never Initiated War, Only Defended Against US-Israeli Aggression: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed that Iran has never initiated a war, stating that all of the country's military actions have been in self-defense against what he described as US-Israeli aggression, according to a report carried by Iran's state news agency IRNA. The remarks come as Tehran continues to frame the 12-day conflict of June 2025 as a defensive response rather than an act of aggression. That conflict began when Israel launched strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, followed by direct US strikes on the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities on June 22, 2025, marking the first direct American military action against Iran in decades. A ceasefire was reached after intensive regional diplomacy, with Qatar playing a central mediating role alongside other Gulf states in de-escalating the confrontation and facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran. Pezeshkian, who has repeatedly emphasized diplomacy and dialogue since taking office in 2024, has used the anniversary period to reiterate that Iran's posture remains defensive rather than expansionist, pointing to the absence of any Iranian first strike in the conflict's origin. The comments align with Tehran's broader messaging strategy aimed at Gulf and international audiences, distinguishing Iran's retaliatory missile and drone responses from what it casts as unprovoked Israeli and American military action. For Qatar and its Gulf neighbors, which have sought to maintain a delicate balance between security cooperation with Washington and de-escalation with Tehran, statements reaffirming Iran's defensive framing are closely watched, given the direct impact any renewed hostilities would have on regional shipping lanes, energy infrastructure, and the security of US bases hosted across the Gulf, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.