Iranian president urges Muslim states to bar attacks from their soil

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday urged Muslim states to prevent their territories from being used to launch attacks against fellow Islamic nations, addressing the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran as US-Israeli military operations against the Islamic Republic continued for a second month.

Speaking during the opening session of the four-day gathering, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran's defensive posture carries no antagonism toward Muslim countries. "Defending Iran does not mean hostility toward Muslim nations or neighboring countries," he said, stressing that no Islamic nation should permit its soil to serve as a base for aggression against another.

US-Israeli Attacks Amid Diplomacy

The Iranian president stated that large-scale US and Israeli military strikes against Iran commenced while diplomatic channels between Tehran and Washington remained active, with negotiations having resumed that same month in an effort to resolve outstanding differences. "No Islamic country should allow its territory to be used as a launchpad for aggression against another Islamic country," Pezeshkian said, adding that Washington and Tel Aviv targeted Iranian commanders, officials, scientists, and civilians — including schoolchildren — while hitting cities and critical infrastructure.

According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, the conference has drawn approximately 600 domestic and international participants from 40 countries, including delegations from Iraq, Pakistan, Türkiye, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. The event will continue through Sunday with programs in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, alongside specialized meetings in West Azerbaijan, Kordestan, Golestan, and Razavi Khorasan provinces.