President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed a massive crowd at Tehran’s Azadi Square to mark the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. His speech came at a critical juncture, just days after the first direct nuclear negotiations with the U.S. since last June’s 12-day war. Pezeshkian declared that while Iran remains committed to dialogue and is ready for “any verification” to prove its nuclear program is peaceful, it will not yield to “excessive demands” , a reference to Washington’s push to include ballistic missiles and regional proxies in a new deal.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is not seeking nuclear weapons and is open to verification, while rejecting excessive demands and stressing dialogue with neighboring countries to ensure regional peace and stability.#Iran pic.twitter.com/31ybwjNcxq
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) February 11, 2026
The celebrations occurred under a heavy security blanket and intense domestic friction. While thousands filled the streets to burn U.S. and Israeli flags, human rights groups reported that nearly 7,000 people have been killed in a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests that ignited in late December. On the eve of the anniversary, residents in several Tehran neighborhoods reportedly took to their balconies to chant slogans against the clerical leadership, despite widespread internet shutdowns.
As Pezeshkian called for national unity, the geopolitical clock is ticking. In Washington, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting today to finalize a “Maximum Pressure 2.0” strategy, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has warned of a “regional war” if the U.S. targets any more nuclear facilities.
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