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• After meeting Netanyahu, US president hopes Tehran will be ‘more reasonable and responsible’
• Zardari warns of regional destabilisation if Iran attacked; opposes unilateral sanctions and coercive measures
TEHRAN / ISLAMABAD: Iran’s president vowed on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic would not bow to outside aggression, as it marked the anniversary of the 1979 revolution under the looming threat of US military action.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country would “not yield to excessive demands” on its nuclear programme.
Speaking at Azadi Square in the Iranian capital, to mark the 47th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution, he said the country was “continuing dialogue with all our strength with neighbouring countries in order to establish peace and tranquillity in the region”.
The remarks came ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the latter was expected to push the White House to take a tougher stance in nuclear talks with Iran, as well as putting pressure on its ballistic missile programme.
However, after the meeting, Trump did not divulge much, only saying that he had insisted that negotiations with Iran continue. He also hoped that the Iranian regime would be more reasonable and responsible this time around.
Ahead of the meeting, Qatar’s ruler discussed regional de-escalation on a call with US President Donald Trump and later met with Iran’s top security official.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Trump focused on “the current situation in the region and international efforts aimed at de-escalation and strengthening regional security and peace”, a statement said.
The leaders also discussed “supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving crises through dialogue and peaceful means”, it added.
Later, his office said Sheikh Tamim had also met Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council in Doha.
The pair discussed “developments in the region, efforts to reduce escalation and enhance regional security” according to a statement, with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also in presence.
Zardari’s warning
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari warned that any military escalation involving Iran could destabilise the Gulf region, South Asia and Western Asia.
Addressing a ceremony hosted by the Iranian embassy in Islamabad on the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the president appreciated efforts for easing tensions and promoting regional peace.
“Any instability involving Iran, or any attempt to resolve issues through military means, carries grave risks. Such actions could … undermine global peace, and cause serious harm to the global economy. The stakes are far too high for confrontation,” he said.
He further stated that Pakistan opposed unilateral sanctions and coercive measures, including against Iran, and believed that “peaceful engagement best serves regional and global security”.
Earlier, the president requested the participants of the ceremony to observe one minute of silence in the memory of victims of the recent blast in Islamabad, and the tragedies in Iran.
“Let’s pray that wars never come to us,” he said.
In his welcome address, Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam said that despite facing various external pressures and challenges, Iran had made remarkable progress in key sectors, including technology, defence, science and the economy.
He noted that the Iranian nation had “consistently demonstrated resilience and self-reliance”, turning challenges into opportunities and continuing its journey of development with determination.
Moghadam said that Iran did “not seek war and believes in resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy”. However, he made it clear that if a war broke out, Iran would “fully retaliate in defence of its sovereignty”.
Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026
