According to Khabaronline, an Iranian news agency, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, said on Tuesday during an open parliamentary session that Iran does not seek permission from any party to defend itself.
“I reiterate that Iran does not ask anyone for permission to defend itself,” Ghalibaf said. “The response of the Iranian people to any adventurism or hostile act will be broad, uncompromising, and even unexpected. Iran’s decisions and actions to secure its interests and exercise its legitimate right to self-defense will not necessarily be predictable or similar to those of the past.
Referring to protests held on Monday over rising prices, Ghalibaf said public concerns and objections regarding economic hardship must be addressed with full responsibility.
He stressed the need for dialogue—particularly with representatives of professional and trade groups—and for concrete measures focused on increasing people’s purchasing power and reforming economic decision-making processes to be placed on the agenda of executive authorities.
Ghalibaf added that hostile actors and organized networks seek to exploit legitimate public demands and protests by using trained operatives to turn them into unrest and disorder.
However, he said the Iranian people have repeatedly demonstrated their awareness, vigilance, and concern for national security, emphasizing that no one cares more about the country than its own citizens. For this reason, he said, public protests must be met with patience, accountability, and clear responses.
Public Will Prevent Protests From Turning Into Unrest
The parliamentary speaker said Iranians are well aware of their enemies and their malicious objectives, and through public awareness, will prevent hostile field operatives from achieving their goals. He added that the public will stop protests from being diverted toward chaos, which he described as a premeditated objective of adversaries.
Ghalibaf also said President Pezeshkian’s timely and responsible intervention on the issue was necessary. He emphasized the urgency of adopting immediate measures to protect people’s purchasing power, preserving the Central Bank’s authority to make sound decisions, reforming existing procedures, and ensuring unified and coordinated economic decision-making across the government. Reassuring the public that flawed economic decision-making processes are being corrected is among the country’s most pressing needs, he said.
He stressed that the minimum duty of officials toward the nation is preserving unity and protecting purchasing power. “Flies land on wounds,” Ghalibaf said, adding that enemies exploit managerial weaknesses to pursue their hostile goals. He emphasized that there should be no hesitation in implementing reforms aimed at solving people’s problems.
Satellite Launches Highlight Iran’s Scientific Progress
Ghalibaf also congratulated Iran’s young scientists in the space industry and the Iranian people on the successful launch of the Kowsar, Zafar-2, and Paya satellites and the receipt of their first signals. He said the satellites were built by domestic knowledge-based companies and university research centers, entirely by Iranian experts.
“These young scientists have proven the slogan ‘We can,’” Ghalibaf said, adding that no power can prevent Iran and Iranians from making progress. He noted that the construction of the Zafar-2 satellite alone required nearly 340,000 hours of specialized work and the production of dozens of complex components.
He concluded by saying that young people capable of building satellites and missiles could also resolve managerial imbalances, provided they are given the opportunity and restrictive, monopolistic mindsets do not stand in their way.