INTERNATIONAL — June 24, 2026
Iranian President: Without Rockets, Iran Would Have Become Like Gaza
Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement on a visit to Islamabad, where he also called Western human rights rhetoric a lie and said defensive capabilities are non-negotiable.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Ariana News — corroborated by Hurriyat — 2 min read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that if Iran did not have rockets, the country would have faced the same situation as Gaza. He made this comment while visiting Pakistan. Pezeshkian pointed to Israel and the United States as the parties responsible for such potential destruction.
The president also addressed the topic of human rights. He said that the talk by America and the West about human rights is a lie. Pezeshkian claimed that their actions in Gaza demonstrate this, as they showed no mercy in their attacks.
Pezeshkian stressed the importance of Iran's defensive capabilities. He declared that these capabilities are non-negotiable. The president said he would never discuss Iran's defensive capabilities with anyone.
The statements were made during Pezeshkian's visit to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. They reflect Iran's stance on maintaining its military programs amid international pressures.
The remarks underscore the president's view that Iran's rocket program serves as a deterrent against potential aggression from its adversaries.
Read the original reporting at Ariana News →
Reliability assessment
Two independent sources corroborate the core event: an on-record statement by named Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The verifiable fact is that he said it; differing details do not undermine this.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Ariana News: "plowed Iran like Gaza", "would not have spared the old or the young", "this claim of theirs is a big lie" — these phrases use vivid, emotionally charged imagery and direct accusations of hypocrisy to frame the US and Israel negatively.; Hurriyat: "brutal attacks", "talk of human rights is a lie", "showed no mercy" — these phrases emotionally frame the West and Israel as hypocritical and merciless, mixing reporting with strong accusatory language.
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- Pezeshkian made the statements during a trip to Pakistan (Islamabad).
- Core message: Iran's missiles/defensive capabilities prevented a Gaza-like fate; human rights rhetoric is false; defensive capabilities are non-negotiable.
Where reports differ
- Ariana News includes additional context on US negotiations over Iran's ballistic missiles and Trump's recent stance; Hurriyat does not mention this.
- Minor wording differences: Ariana News uses 'rockets' and 'missiles'; Hurriyat uses 'defensive capability'.
Filed by 2 outlets
Ariana News
Originating
Framed
Framed
Hurriyat
Framed
Framed
Filed under
International — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran, Pakistan, Gaza, missiles
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