Iran President says Afghanistan, Pakistan blocked attempts to infiltrate Iran during war

TEHRAN, Aug 8: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that Afghanistan and Pakistan helped prevent attempted incursions into Iran during the 40-day war, while stressing that Tehran is seeking a diplomatic path to end the conflict.

Pezeshkian said armed groups had attempted to attack Iranian border posts in the country’s northwest and southeast and send forces into Iran. He said Afghanistan and Pakistan responded by deploying groups to secure their respective borders and made clear that no one would be allowed to cross into Iran from their territories to create unrest.

The Iranian president also said Tehran had retaliated against attacks launched from US military bases in neighboring countries, arguing that Iran could not allow its territory to be targeted from another country without responding.

On diplomacy, Pezeshkian described the United States as “untrustworthy” but said the current situation represented the “best time” for Iran to reach an agreement.

He said Iran remained united and strong, claiming the country was viewed as “victorious and powerful” following the war. Pezeshkian added that his government was holding near-daily discussions on diplomacy and seeking to move Iran beyond a state of “neither war nor peace.”

“You cannot fight forever; at some point, it has to be brought to an end,” Pezeshkian said, emphasizing the need to focus efforts where Iran could have the greatest influence.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian did not deny media reports that security chief Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr had offered his resignation, saying “there are some differences that we are trying to resolve” when asked about the matter, Didban Iran news website reported Saturday. Reformist newspaper Sazandegi reported Friday, citing informed sources, that Zolghadr had resigned as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council but Pezeshkian refused to accept it and asked him to remain in the post. The report followed rumors that Mohsen Rezaei, a military aide to Iran’s supreme leader, could replace Zolghadr as Iran’s top security official.