Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Monday that the Islamic Republic does not seek war but will respond firmly to any aggression against the country, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate.

Speaking before departing for Kyrgyzstan, Pezeshkian said Iran’s position remained clear: it does not want conflict, but will not remain passive in the face of attacks.

“We are not looking for war, and this is the clear message that we have announced to the world so far,” Pezeshkian said.

He added that Iran would deliver a decisive response to any aggression against its territory.

“In the face of any aggression, we will never sit still and will give a decisive response to the aggressors,” the Iranian president said.

Pezeshkian also warned that continued instability in the region would ultimately harm all countries.

“Instability and unrest in the region are not in the interest of any country and will challenge everyone,” he said.

Pezeshkian’s remarks came after a reported US drone strike on Larak Island in Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province.

According to Iranian media reports, the attack resulted in casualties among Iranian military personnel and civilians on the island.

Following the reported strike, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force launched retaliatory attacks against two US-operated military bases in Jordan — King Hussein and Al-Azraq.

The IRGC said the strikes targeted technical, maintenance and fighter-aircraft infrastructure at the bases and involved a combination of ballistic missiles and drones.

Iranian officials described the operation as a response to US aggression against Iranian territory.

The IRGC said the strikes inflicted “heavy damage” on the targeted facilities and warned Washington that further attacks against Iran would provoke stronger retaliation.

The force also linked the confrontation to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that continued US military pressure would not alter Iran’s position regarding the strategically vital waterway.

Against the backdrop of rising regional tensions, Pezeshkian is traveling to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to participate in a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit beginning September 1.

Iranian presidential Public Relations chief Habibollah Abbasi told IRNA that Pezeshkian will address the summit and hold bilateral meetings with leaders and senior officials from SCO member and partner countries.

The Iranian president is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games, which will take place in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 6.

Pezeshkian’s participation in the SCO summit comes as Iran seeks to strengthen diplomatic and strategic relations with regional and international partners while tensions with Washington remain high.

Tehran has repeatedly maintained that it does not seek confrontation but reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and respond to attacks. The latest statements from Pezeshkian and the IRGC indicate that Iran intends to combine diplomatic engagement with a firm deterrence policy against further aggression. (ILKHA)