IRANIAN President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for an immediate end to the West Asia war involving the United States, declaring that Tehran is negotiating from a position of strength as the conflict remains deadlocked and talks between the two countries have yet to resume.
The war, which Iran says was launched by the United States and Israel in February, has reached an impasse, while diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain stalled.
“It is better that we end the war now because we are in a position of power and dignity,” Pezeshkian said, according to AFP.
The Iranian president claimed that the international community recognised Iran as having prevailed in the conflict and had condemned the United States for allegedly attacking schools, hospitals and the country’s infrastructure in violation of international law.
Pezeshkian also defended a memorandum of understanding reached with Washington in June aimed at ending the war, insisting that the agreement did not amount to Tehran’s surrender.
According to him, not a single clause in the agreement indicated that Iran had capitulated, with all commitments instead imposed on the opposing side.
His remarks came weeks after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said he had approved the agreement to end the war despite holding different views.
The United States, meanwhile, has announced plans to intensify economic sanctions in an effort to increase pressure on Tehran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington would seek to bring down Iran’s regime through its sanctions campaign.
Iran condemned the measures as economic terrorism, while China also rejected the approach of sanctions and pressure, calling on all parties to resolve the conflict through political and diplomatic means. – August 22, 2026
