Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said it would be better for the war to end now while Tehran remains in a position of strength, Iranian state and semi-official media reported on Friday.
Pezeshkian was quoted by state news agency Mizan and the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) as saying that “it would be better to end the war today, while we are in a position of strength and dignity.”
The comments came as Iranian military officials issued warnings that any renewed threats against the country would trigger a forceful response.
The chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces warned that any “new threat” would be met with a “destructive” response, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday that it could deploy even more “destructive” weapons if fighting resumes, according to Iranian semi-official media.
The statements come amid uncertainty over the future of diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he suspended talks with Iran, adding further pressure on the prospects for a negotiated end to the conflict.
Pezeshkian’s remarks suggest that Tehran is seeking an end to the fighting from what it considers a position of strength, while Iranian military leaders continue to warn that any renewed hostilities would face a severe response.
