Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline Kayhan daily and representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, has pushed back on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent remark that “honesty and justice” alone can deter threats.
In an editorial, he wrote: “If Iran had no missiles or drones, would the US and Israel have spared us in the 12-day war?” He added that the Quran itself commands the preparation of force to deter enemies.
