Strategic shift, Iran makes two major declarations.
According to Russian media today (March 7), Iranian President Pezeshkian delivered a speech to the Iranian people saying, "The claims that we want unconditional surrender are pure fantasy; they should take this fantasy to their graves." He also said, "The interim leadership committee decided yesterday that Iran will no longer attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless Iran is first attacked by these countries."
Iran's two declarations of "no surrender" and "no expansion" show a tactical adjustment of "defensive strategy." Refuting Trump's "unconditional surrender" theory is a direct counterattack against his psychological warfare. Iran knows that once it shows weakness, its regime's legitimacy will collapse instantly, and the U.S. and Israel's "decapitation" and sanctions will only intensify. The wording "take this fantasy to their graves" serves both to consolidate domestic resistance and to signal the United States: military superiority cannot force political submission, and ground invasion will face strong resistance.
Promising not to strike neighboring countries proactively is a key adjustment for Iran to avoid strategic overextension. While proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen can harass the U.S. and Israel, if the war spreads widely, Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE may be dragged into it, putting Iran in a multi-front isolation. By shrinking the flanks and focusing on the main enemy, Iran preserves regional sympathy and shifts the blame for instability back onto the U.S. and Israel.
The two declarations form a combination punch: demonstrating resilience domestically and seeking space internationally. It is equivalent to countering Trump and also indicates that this conflict game has just begun.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858990726313223/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.