IRANS SPEAKER GHALIBAF URGES NATIONAL UNITY AS KEY TO RESISTANCE IN FACE OF AMERICAN STRIKES

BREAKING: Iran's top negotiator Ghalibaf says cohesion is key for 'national resistance' during US strikes LIVE updates: https://t.co/E5gpr5rvsH https://t.co/nEIfhhbHjA News Analysis & Summary In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric amid ongoing US military operations, Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Gholamreza Ghalibaf has declared that internal cohesion is the bedrock of national resistance against American strikes. Speaking from Tehran, Ghalibaf often cast as a hardliner and former presidential candidate framed the current moment as a test of collective will, urging all factions to set aside differences and rally behind the Supreme Leader. This call for unity comes at a time when Iran faces not only external military pressure but also domestic economic strain and public discontent. While Ghalibafs message is designed to project strength and deter further aggression, it also reveals underlying anxieties about cracks in the regimes support base. In my view, such rhetoric serves a dual purpose: to mobilize patriotic fervor while implicitly warning internal critics that dissent will be seen as betrayal. The coming days will test whether Irans political elite can genuinely close ranks or if the specter of war will instead deepen fissures. Comprehensive background: The US strikes reportedly targeting Iranian-backed militia positions in Iraq and Syria are a response to recent attacks on American forces. Tehran denies direct involvement but has long used proxies to project power. Ghalibafs statement is the highest-level official reaction so far, signaling that Iran views the strikes as a direct challenge to its sovereignty. Opinion: While unity is a logical defensive strategy, history shows that authoritarian regimes often exploit external crises to crush opposition. The true national resistance of Iran may not be military solidarity, but the resilience of its people who must bear the cost of confrontation without democratic recourse. Source: @AJENews on X/TwitterPublic Engagement Views: 39,340 Likes: 123 Comments: 18 Shares: 21 Published: July 19, 2026, 12:10 pm