SAEDNEWS: Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh says that his country was the only state to deliver a decisive and crushing response to the Israeli regime.
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh stated on Monday that the Islamic Republic of Iran was the only nation to deliver a decisive and crushing response to the Israeli regime. His remarks came during a ceremony at Malek Ashtar University of Technology marking Student Day.
According to Mehr News Agency, Nasirzadeh opened his speech by highlighting the historical significance of December 7 (16 Azar) and its connection to Iran’s struggle against the United States. He described Student Day as a symbolic day of confronting global arrogance, citing the U.S. as the most prominent example today.
Reviewing post-World War II developments and the rise of American power, Nasirzadeh said Washington exploited global conditions, geographic advantages, and influence in international institutions to establish a hegemonic structure. He noted that the U.S. later expanded its naval presence worldwide, a move he called a reflection of “global arrogance.”
Citing recent U.S. interventions, he argued that wherever America has engaged — from regional conflicts to Ukraine — the result has been pressure, war, and manipulation of public opinion. In the Middle East, he claimed, the Israeli regime serves as an instrument of U.S. policy, a base established to advance hegemonic goals.
Nasirzadeh also emphasized Iran’s defensive strength, asserting that the country was the only nation to deliver a decisive blow to Israel. He described Israel as a regime that does not withdraw or accept ceasefires unless compelled. According to Nasirzadeh, Iran’s military, defensive, and scientific capabilities inflicted serious damage on Israel during the 12-day war, ultimately forcing the regime to request a ceasefire — a demonstration of Iran’s power.
He further highlighted Iran’s ancient civilization, stating that it has never submitted to domination. “The United States is inherently hegemonic, while the Islamic Republic of Iran is inherently independence-seeking,” he said, emphasizing that these identities are fundamentally incompatible. “Surrender has never aligned with Iran’s identity, history, or character,” Nasirzadeh added.
The 12-day conflict erupted on June 13, 2025, after Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities, killing several senior nuclear scientists and military officials. More than a week later, the U.S. joined the conflict by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites, actions widely condemned as violations of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes on strategic sites in the occupied territories and the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in West Asia. On June 24, Iran announced that its counterattacks had effectively halted the illegal assault by Israel and the United States.
