TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Friday that it is time to end the months-long war with the United States, asserting that Tehran currently holds a strategic advantage over Washington.
The conflict, which erupted in February following actions by the US and Israel, has settled into a grinding military stalemate. Iran maintains a partial closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, while the United States continues to enforce a naval counter-blockade.
“It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity,” Pezeshkian said during a meeting with medical professionals. He framed the ongoing conflict as a victory for Iran, claiming the international community recognizes that the US “has attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world.”
The president’s remarks come as he defends a controversial memorandum of understanding struck with the US in June aimed at halting hostilities. The deal has faced intense scrutiny from hardline lawmakers in Iran’s parliament, who accuse the government of offering unwarranted concessions, particularly regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Pezeshkian firmly rejected these criticisms, insisting the agreement contains no signs of capitulation. “All the commitments concern the other side,” he stated. His defense follows the recent approval of the deal by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who signed off on the agreement despite publicly acknowledging he held “different views.”
On the ground, the military reality remains complex. According to US media reports, the American Navy has been successfully escorting secret tanker convoys through the southern sector of the Strait of Hormuz, facilitating the daily export of 5 to 10 million barrels of oil despite the Iranian blockade.
The Pivot to ‘Economic D-Day’
As Tehran pushes for a diplomatic resolution from its claimed position of strength, the Trump administration is shifting its strategy away from an increasingly unpopular military campaign toward aggressive financial warfare.
On Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to “collapse” the Iranian regime through a severe sanctions campaign. Bessent noted that ramping up economic pressure makes it less likely that Washington will need to resume heavy military operations, promising to unveil further details of the economic measures at a press conference on Monday.
The planned sanctions—dubbed an “Economic D-Day”—have sparked immediate backlash from Tehran. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the American plan as “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity,” calling for the perpetrators of the sanctions to face trial.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to X to dismiss the threats as a domestic distraction for the Trump administration. “The so-called ‘Economic D-Day’ is a diversion from America’s own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs,” Araghchi wrote.
The US pivot to economic pressure has also drawn criticism from Beijing. Washington has been actively urging global partners to help isolate the Iranian economy, but China has firmly rejected the approach.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Friday that “sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue,” urging all parties to seek a diplomatic solution. The geopolitical friction is expected to be a key agenda item when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the White House on September 24, echoing similar discussions held during President Trump’s trip to Beijing in May.
