Iranian Regime Ready to Impose Hardship on its People Rather Than Surrender

TEHRAN, Oct 20: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invoked a historic declaration associated with Iranian constitutional revolutionary Sattar Khan, saying the country would endure hardship rather than surrender its territory.

In a post on X marking the birthday of Sattar Khan, a prominent figure in Iran’s early 20th-century Constitutional Revolution, Pezeshkian praised his struggle for freedom and the rule of law.

The post concluded with the words: “We will eat dirt, but we will not give up our land,” according to the supplied report. 

The message appeared to underline Tehran’s determination to defend Iran’s territorial integrity despite the hardships the country may face. However, the post, as described, did not explicitly outline any new government policy or military decision.

Sattar Khan, who became known as “Sardar-e Melli,” or National Commander, played a prominent role in the constitutional movement and the resistance in Tabriz against royalist forces in 1908-09. He remains a significant historical figure in Iran’s national memory.

Pezeshkian has previously made public statements rejecting the prospect of Iran’s unconditional surrender. In September, he said Iranians could not be bullied into submission and declared that Iran would not surrender.

The latest reported message invokes the legacy of a historical figure associated with resistance and national sovereignty, reinforcing the Iranian president’s public emphasis on defending the country against external pressure.