President Masoud Pezeshkian says bombs and missiles cannot force Iran to surrender as the United States mounts rhetorical threats against the nation amid its failure to bring the Islamic Republic to its knees through aggression and blockade.

“Bombs and missiles can’t force a nation to surrender, but if we become divided internally, the enemy will achieve its goal,” Pezeshkian said on Thursday during a ceremony marking the National Nurses Day.

He also warned against the enemy’s plots to exploit internal divisions and existing problems in a bid to weaken the country’s power and unity.

Pezeshkian further emphasized that the Iranian people have decided to stand firm in the face of the adversaries, who are increasing pressure on the country by using various means, including restrictions on transport and communication routes.

"The enemy believed that electricity, water and gas shortages, fuel issues, environmental challenges, banking problems, budget deficits, and pension fund issues could divide the Iranian society. However, the people’s resilience and solidarity proved these expectations wrong,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Iranian chief executive hailed the sacrifice of Iranian nurses and other medical personnel, as well as those who stood firm in the most difficult circumstances to protect the country’s security and territorial integrity.

Health official: 16 nurses martyred in two US-Israeli wars of aggression on Iran

A senior Iranian health official says at least 16 nurses have been martyred during the two US-Israeli wars of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Moreover, he urged officials to avoid words or actions that could undermine national unity and asked them to employ all available resources towards reinforcing public trust.

The US and Israel launched their illegal war of aggression against Iran on February 28.

Forty days later, on April 8, the enemies were forced to accept a ceasefire amid Iran’s resistance and successful retaliatory operations.

In July, the US conducted waves of deadly air raids on Iran and imposed a naval blockade of the country in violation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Republic, signed on June 17, to end the war.

In response, the Iranian armed forces launched devastating strikes against strategic American targets across West Asia and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic.