Iran president says time to end war while in position of strength

Iran president notes time to end war while in position of strength.

Key points

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday vowed Washington would "collapse" the Iranian regime with its threatened campaign almost six months since their war began.
• "The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt and surging interest costs, " Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remarked in a post on X.
• His remarks come weeks after Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remarked he had approved the agreement to end the war despite having "different views".
• Asked regarding US President Donald Trump's threats, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated to journalists on Friday that "sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue".
• Tehran is keeping the key Strait of Hormuz partially shut and Washington is persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran.

Iran president notes time to end war while in position of strength. AFP Published August 21, 2026 Updated August 21, 2026 07: 08pm. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked on Friday it was time to end the months-long Middle East war with the United States as Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington.

Discussions between the decades-old foes remain on hold, with both sides in the war kicked off by the US and Israel in February locked in a stalemate.

"It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity, " Pezeshkian remarked in a gathering with doctors.

"The whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasises that America has attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world."

Pezeshkian additionally defended a memorandum of understanding agreed with the US in June aimed at ending the war, claiming it did not signal a defeat for Tehran.

"They cannot find even a single clause in this agreement that indicates capitulation. All the commitments concern the other side, " he remarked.

Hardline lawmakers in Iran's parliament have additionally criticised the administration over the accord, accusing it of giving concessions to the US, mostly over the re-opening of the strategic Hormuz Strait.

As reports indicate in US media, the American navy has been organising and protecting secret convoys of tankers through the southern sector of the Strait of Hormuz enabling between five and 10 million barrels a day of oil to be exported.

As Tehran asserted to be in the stronger position, the US has stated it would ramp up sanctions to heap pressure on Tehran.

In practice, the American plan drew condemnation from Iran's foreign ministry. It accused the US of "economic terrorism" and "crimes against humanity".

"The perpetrators and instigators of these sanctions are deserving of trial and punishment for committing such heinous crimes, " it remarked in an official note carried by state media.

Meanwhile, the comments underscored how the Trump administration is shifting to economic rather than military pressure on Tehran as the US president's unpopular war drags on.

China additionally criticised Washington's economic plan, saying that US "sanctions and pressure" would not resolve the Middle East conflict.

Washington had pressed other governments including Beijing to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy.

"China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means, " he remarked.

When the topic of Iran is sure to come up, as it did when Trump travelled to Beijing for a summit in May, chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit the White House on September 24.

Bessent remarked the plan to ramp up economic sanctions against Iran meant Washington was less probable to have to return to heavy military operations against the country.

For context, the US Treasury chief remarked he would provide further details of the economic measures against Iran during a press conference on Monday. Other senior Iranian authorities additionally criticised the US sanctions plan.

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