In a pivotal speech marking Iran’s Revolution Day, President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a message of rare public contrition mixed with staunch diplomatic defiance, encapsulating the regime’s precarious position.
Addressing a crowd at Tehran’s Azadi Square, Pezeshkian directly acknowledged the government’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests that began in January. “We are ashamed before the people, and we are obligated to assist all those who were harmed,” he stated—an unusual admission of fault from the leadership.
However, his tone shifted sharply to foreign policy. The president insisted Iran is “ready for any kind of verification” of its nuclear program but placed the blame for failed diplomacy squarely on the United States and Europe. He cited a “high wall of mistrust” built by Western actions, a clear reference to the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and subsequent tensions.
The dual-natured speech highlights the twin crises facing Iran’s theocracy: profound domestic anger and isolated, high-stakes negotiations with a major military adversary. Pezeshkian’s words sought to calm internal dissent while projecting resilience abroad, a balancing act that will define Iran’s immediate future.
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