According to IRNA, former Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami said in a speech on the 16th local time that external aggression and full-scale warfare cannot defeat Iran, but the Iranian people cannot live in war for long.
According to reports, this reform-minded former president expressed these views during a meeting with a group of media personnel. Khatami served as the President of Iran from 1997 to 2005.
Said Mohammad Khatami - Photo. IRNA.
Khatami said, "If we are in the most dangerous and decisive situation since the Islamic Revolution, then that is not an exaggeration."
He believes that the spread of dissatisfaction within Iran, the heavy living pressures on the people, and the decline in the country’s military strength have led the enemy to consider changing the Iranian regime. Although significant casualties and property losses have occurred in the war, the enemy’s credibility has diminished significantly, and Iran is now in a more advantageous position, with its people becoming more united.
Khatami praised the courage and spirit of sacrifice shown by the current president, Pezhvarzian. He believed that despite the "sarcasm and threats" from the outside world, Pezhvarzian remained firm in signing the memorandum of understanding, which brought honor to Iran. This also demonstrated his commitment to the promises he made to the people.
Hatami said, "In any understanding and agreement, there are interests that need to be sacrificed and also those that can be gained. It is necessary to consider what the other party has proposed, what we want, and which side has gained more. Once the basis for concessions between the two sides is clear, it should be continued through prudent diplomacy and negotiations."
When discussing the topic of war and peace, Khatami said that resistance against aggression is commendable, and it is a great virtue in itself. "But even if resistance leads to conflicts, its purpose should be to eliminate aggressive wars, not to wage wars for the sake of war."
He emphasized the need to strive for a ‘dignified peace’. That is, after successfully forcing the enemy to accept Iran’s existence, Iran should achieve prosperous development in a dignified manner by avoiding tensions and promoting social welfare.
"It is a mistake to think that we can continuously confront the enemy through wars. My dear compatriots, we cannot live on by war. In other words, the people cannot live by war; continuing to live, meeting daily needs, and governing society are impossible," said Khatami.
