Pezeshkian urges global coalition to counter "illegal" US demands

• Letter to the Pope: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian detailed the scale of casualties from US–'Israeli' military campaign.
• He blamed the current closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the American naval blockade.
• Tehran promised a return to normal transit once the blockade is lifted.
• Pezeshkian urged the international community to stand against "illegal US demands" to protect international law and human values.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a sweeping appeal to international leaders, urging global nations to stand firm against what he characterized as the unlawful and destructive overreach of the United States.

In a deeply symbolic letter addressed to Pope Francis, the Iranian president argued that resisting Washington's policies is no longer just a regional necessity, but a collective defense of international law and universal human values.

The letter provided the most explicit details to date from the Iranian executive branch regarding the devastating impacts of the US–'Israeli' military campaign launched on February.

Pezeshkian confirmed that the attacks resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with numerous senior political and military figures.

He stated that 3,468 Iranian citizens have been killed, citing extensive destruction to hospitals, schools, universities, and critical infrastructure as clear evidence of "war crimes."

Hormuz crisis

Addressing the global economic chokehold in the Persian Gulf, Pezeshkian explicitly shifted the blame for the maritime crisis onto Western shoulders.

He asserted that the current instability plaguing the Strait of Hormuz stems directly from unprovoked American military strikes and the subsequent naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports.

Pezeshkian clarified that Tehran does not seek a permanent disruption to global commerce but will maintain its current posture as long as it is under siege.

"Normal transit will resume once insecurity is lifted," Pezeshkian wrote, noting that Iran intends to apply regulatory mechanisms strictly aligned with international maritime law once the conflict subsides.

He defended recent Iranian strikes on assets within neighboring Persian Gulf littoral states, stating that the use of U.S. military bases in those countries to launch attacks left Iran with no choice but to strike back in legitimate self-defense.

Appeal to faith

Quoting both Quranic and Biblical passages that condemn arrogance and tyranny, Pezeshkian praised the Pope's "moral, logical, and fair positions" regarding the outbreak of the war.

He heavily criticized the Trump administration, claiming that the US president's stated intent to "destroy Iran's historic civilization" exposed a dangerous illusion of absolute power.

Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran’s diverse fabric of Muslims, Christians, and other religious communities has coexisted peacefully for centuries, and that the nation has never historically threatened its neighbors.

Despite what he termed "repeated US betrayals" during negotiations that were allegedly used as false pretexts for the initial February strikes, Pezeshkian reaffirmed that Tehran has not abandoned the political track.

He noted that Iran remains fully committed to the ongoing, Pakistan-mediated peace talks. Concluding his message, the Iranian president called for a realistic and fair international response, reiterating that Iran prefers a peaceful, lawful, and ethical resolution to the regional crisis if Washington is willing to halt its aggression.