Iran's President Hails National Unity as Catalyst for Leadership Reform

According to Saed News, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has described the surge of national solidarity during the recent 12-day war as a rare chance to transform the nation’s governance culture. Addressing the Cabinet on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said the shared resolve among ordinary citizens, military personnel, and even critics of the regime revealed that defense of the homeland is not the purview of a select elite but a collective national enterprise.

“Israel miscalculated,” the president declared, “believing it could fracture public opinion. Instead, it unified the people—soldiers, artists, politicians, and even prisoners—in defense of Iran’s territorial integrity.”

Pezeshkian extended gratitude to the armed forces, security services, and civil society, emphasizing that despite Iran’s historical aversion to initiating conflict, the country responded decisively to aggression. He warned, however, that war remains a “hideous phenomenon” and expressed hope that the recent confrontation would serve as a national awakening.

The president also underscored the need to move beyond factionalism in appointing officials, advocating for a merit-based system that empowers provincial authorities with greater autonomy. “Governors must lead with the authority of a president within their regions,” he asserted, touting the decentralization initiative as a strategic shift in governance.

He concluded by urging unity among the branches of power and thanked the parliament for its vote of confidence in the new finance minister. “This unity is our path forward,” he said, “and it is time our leadership reflects the resilience and cohesion of our people.”