Any attempt to force Iran to surrender doomed to fail: Iranian president

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday any attempt by other states to impose their will on Iran or force it to surrender is doomed for failure, according to the official news agency IRNA.

Iran does not seek war and instability and always insists on dialogue and "constructive" engagement with other countries, Pezeshkian said in a meeting with a group of pre-hospital medical staff in Tehran.

He criticized some nations for applying double standards in international systems, saying that any military action against other countries violates established global principles.

Pezeshkian condemned the US-Israeli war against Iran, saying Iran had committed no "crime." He said targeting civilians and destroying critical centers like schools and hospitals are unjustifiable under international law and humanitarian principles.

The 40-day US-Israeli attacks on Iran, starting February 28, killed Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and more than 3,000 civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US assets in the Middle East.

A two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States took effect on April 8. Lengthy talks between Iranian and US delegations were later held in Pakistan's Islamabad, but failed to produce an agreement.