21/08/2026
Share:
21/08/2026
Share:
BAGHDAD, Aug 21: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that military strength alone cannot guarantee the survival of the Islamic Republic, saying Iran could not endure if its people faced hunger and the economy continued to struggle.
Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with Iranian and Iraqi business figures at Iran’s embassy in Baghdad, Ghalibaf said economic growth, domestic production and financial stability were essential to the country’s security.
“No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we don't have financial circulation, economic growth and domestic production, we will not endure,” he said.
Ghalibaf stressed that economic stability and security were closely linked, arguing that military security could not be maintained without a functioning economy.
“Security and the economy require each other,” he said. “If we establish security but do not sustain it through the economy, it will not last.”
Ghalibaf also addressed Iran’s military posture, saying Tehran was not seeking war but needed to maintain sufficient military readiness to strengthen its position in diplomatic negotiations.
“We are not warmongers and we are not seeking war,” he said, while arguing that diplomacy would be more effective when backed by military preparedness.
“If we are not prepared for war, no one will respond to us when we use diplomacy,” Ghalibaf said.
His remarks come as Iran faces mounting economic pressures, highlighting the leadership’s concern that economic weakness could pose a challenge to the country’s long-term stability even as Tehran continues to emphasize military preparedness and national security.
