Addressing exporters in Tehran, the president says Iran is not seeking war but will resist coercion, stating that Washington miscalculated its ability to withstand sanctions and military pressure.

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that Washington must remove its threats and sanctions in practice before any dialogue can begin, stating that the United States is closing every path to engagement while simultaneously claiming to seek negotiations.

"Threats and sanctions must be removed in practice so that the ground for dialogue can be prepared," Pezeshkian wrote on X. "You cannot every day increase the intensity of sanctions and pressure, close the paths of interaction and at the same time speak of negotiations. Dialogue with the language of threats and pressure is meaningless."

The post coincided with National Exports Day, where Pezeshkian addressed exporters in Tehran and struck a defiant note on Iran's standoff with Washington.

"America did not imagine that Iran could stand against the pressures," he said. "We stood and we will continue to stand. We are not seeking war, but we will never bow to force and bullying, because this approach is rooted in our culture, beliefs and convictions."

He said the world now views Iran differently "because of the steadfastness and resistance of the Iranian nation," and that Washington had miscalculated.

"America did not think that with the attack it carried out and the sanctions it imposed, we would be able to stand — but we stood and we will continue to stand."

Pezeshkian said the martyred Leader's policy had been to exit the "neither war nor peace" status, describing it as the worst possible condition.

He recalled that when the leadership ordered the issue resolved, the decision was taken to negotiate, and that a final message stressed the matter should be settled completely.

He condemned the enemy's response — the assassination of the Leader, commanders and two cabinet ministers, and the targeting of scientists and students — saying the aim was to bring down the country.

"The enemy's goal was to overthrow Iran, but the nation stood with dignity and power."

He said a memorandum of understanding with the United States had been a good deal with major gains for Iran.

"Thirteen of the twelve members of the Supreme National Security Council voted for it and defended it," he said, adding that military commanders in the army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and the aerospace force, along with the judiciary, parliament and government, have all agreed on the deal. "We believed we should take this step."

On the current regional situation, Pezeshkian said: "We are not in a simple situation; the existing conditions are neither desirable for us nor for them. They must recognize the rights of the Iranian nation and abandon bullying and aggression; then we can sit together and talk. You cannot block all paths, make threats and at the same time speak of negotiation."

He stressed the importance of honoring agreements. "I believe a person should not make a pact, but if he does, he must remain committed to it until the end, even if it is to his detriment," he said.

"Yet the other side makes a pact and then violates it. Not even a month has passed and he says again that he does not accept his own signature — just as we had signed an agreement in the JCPOA."

Pezeshkian said President Trump is openly stating his intentions. "Today Trump officially and without fear expresses his intentions and says he wants Iran's oil and gas, says Iran will not allow this, and they want to come and take Iran's resources, just as they took Venezuela's resources."

On the economic front, Pezeshkian said his government has devolved authority to regional managers and ministers during the war and moved to remove red tape obstructing exporters.

"We are with you and trying to open every path that can be opened," he said, adding that the judiciary, parliament and the leadership all share the goal of clearing obstacles to production and exports.

He said more than 75 percent of Iran's trade had previously moved by sea, and that the closure of maritime routes had cut that share to about 25 percent.

"With the closure of the sea routes, problems have been created, but we are also pursuing exports through other routes," he said, acknowledging additional costs.

He said Iran was expanding ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the Eurasian Economic Union, despite U.S. pressure on those countries not to deal with Tehran and efforts to block Iran's land routes.

On the energy sector, Pezeshkian said the government will not allow gas and electricity supplies to industry to be cut, despite enemy strikes on power plants and gas facilities.

"In the government we are trying to prevent, in any way, the gas and electricity needed by industry and production from being cut," he said.

"Sections that need reform we will reform, and where necessary we will impose restrictions, but industry and the production cycle must continue, and we are trying to ensure this process is not halted."

"If we join hands, we can take the country out of this situation," he said. "No one can claim to be able to solve the problems alone; we also need the people's help."