In remarks on Thursday, Aref said that during the recent war of aggression imposed by the Zionist regime and the US, the aggressors assumed they could dismantle the Islamic Republic within three or four days, but their plans failed.
He recalled a meeting with the UN secretary general in which Antonio Guterres acknowledged that the 12-day conflict had “closed the file” on attempts to topple Iran’s government.
The vice president noted that Iran’s adversaries have sought to undermine the Islamic Republic since the 1979 Revolution, but every hostile act has only strengthened national unity and resilience.
Aref added that Iran today is stronger and more cohesive than before the 12-day defense. “We are not worried about confrontation, but we do not seek it either,” he said, underlining the need for calm for the Iranian people as they continue to endure unjust US sanctions.
“We are not a warmongering nation and have never initiated a war. But now the enemy knows that if it attacks, it will be the one pleading for a ceasefire,” the vice president stated.