Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Friday to end the war with the United States "today", noting that Iran is in a "position of strength and dignity" and that the world recognises Iranian victory. According to reports from the Iranian presidency, Pezeshkian made these statements during a meeting with physicians in Tehran.
Pezeshkian added that the United States "attacked our schools, hospitals and facilities in violation of all norms", but asserted that Iran will not surrender to a new attack. "We will not submit under any circumstances to intimidation... we will confront them until our last breath and respond to them crushingly," he said.
The Iranian president's statements come amid stalled talks between Tehran and Washington and the continuation of the war that began in February following attacks by the United States and Israel. The two sides announced two ceasefire agreements in April and June to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but both collapsed quickly.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington is preparing to impose what he described as "the most severe sanctions in history", with details to be revealed at a press conference on Monday. "We are going to collapse this regime. It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision," Bessent said in an interview with CNBC.
President Donald Trump has threatened economic consequences for any country that provides "any kind of support to Iran", calling on allies and China to join the campaign. Bessent warned on the social network X that "any country that maintains a link with Tehran will sink its economy into the abyss".
Iranian officials rejected the US threats. The speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said Iran must plan to overcome "unjust sanctions". Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the new economic measures as "economic terrorism" and "crimes against humanity".
