Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Muslim countries should not allow their territories to be used for attacks on other Muslim states. He made the remarks on Thursday at the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, in a speech broadcast live by Iranian state television.

Pezeshkian said defending Iran did not mean holding hostility toward Muslim countries or neighboring states. He said no Islamic country should permit its territory to be used for aggression against another Islamic country, and that no country should build its own security on the insecurity of its neighbors.

Referring to tensions with the United States, Pezeshkian said large-scale US and Israeli military attacks on Iran began while diplomatic efforts were under way to resolve differences between Tehran and Washington. He said renewed talks had started that month, but attacks followed, killing military commanders, officials, scientists, students, schoolchildren and civilians, while cities and infrastructure were targeted. Iran's IRNA said nearly 600 guests from 40 countries are attending the conference, which runs until Sunday.