“Colonialism has no future”: Iran’s Pezeshkian asserts global stance as US escalates Gulf pressure

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian sharpened his country’s global pitch, declaring that “colonialism and exploitation will have no place in the future world” while reiterating Tehran’s commitment to expanding ties based on mutual respect and shared interests.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian framed Iran’s foreign policy as outward-looking but firmly rooted in principle. “The policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to expand friendly relations based on mutual respect and shared interests,” he wrote.

He paired that outreach with a clear rejection of what he described as outdated power structures. “The policy of colonialism and exploitation will have no place in the future world,” he added, positioning Iran’s stance against a shifting geopolitical backdrop.

Pezeshkian also leaned into history, invoking Iran’s cultural identity as both tolerant and resistant. “Just as tolerance is deeply rooted in the culture of our people, the struggle against oppression shines in the history of this land,” he said, adding that this identity “will continue for the exaltation of Iran's name”.

His remarks come as tensions simmer in the Gulf. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday that US naval forces disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman as part of ongoing blockade measures, while also redirecting 57 commercial vessels operating in the region.

In a statement, CENTCOM said US forces targeted the unladen tankers M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda before they could reach an Iranian port.

According to the command, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from the USS George H.W. Bush fired precision munitions into the vessels’ smokestacks, rendering them inoperable.

The move follows a similar operation on May 6, when US forces disabled another Iranian-flagged tanker, M/T Hasna, as it attempted to approach Iranian territory through the Gulf of Oman.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump signalled that the administration could revive a maritime security initiative, “Project Freedom”, if diplomatic efforts with Iran stall.

Speaking to reporters at the White House before travelling to Sterling, Virginia, Trump said the plan could return in an expanded form.

“We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it’d be Project Freedom plus,” he said. “We’ll go a different route if everything doesn’t get signed up, buttoned up.”

Trump added that Washington was awaiting Tehran’s response to a US proposal aimed at ending the ongoing West Asia conflict. “We’ll hear from them supposedly tonight,” he said, adding when asked about delays, “We’ll find out soon enough.”

The comments come days after Trump announced a temporary pause on “Project Freedom” even as the naval blockade of Iran’s ports remains in place, underscoring the fragile balance between diplomacy and escalation in the region.

(With inputs from ANI)