WASHINGTON — In a significant development, Iran’s president and its parliamentary speaker are vocally advocating for the conclusion of the ongoing conflict with the United States. This comes as they navigate through challenges posed by hardline factions favoring continued resistance.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed concern over the escalating economic strain on Tehran, highlighting that it is beginning to take a serious toll on the country. However, he also issued a warning about the repercussions of a retreat that could be perceived as shamefully yielding “before the enemy.”
In a statement delivered on Friday, as reported by state media, Pezeshkian emphasized, “This war must eventually find its conclusion.” He asserted, “It is more advantageous for us to display our power and dignity now, declaring to the world that we have emerged victorious and are thereby concluding this war.”
The collapse of a previous memorandum of understanding has led President Trump to sustain a blockade on Iran, effectively choking the nation’s key revenue stream—its oil exports.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to introduce what President Trump has termed “economic D-Day” actions against Tehran this week. The existing economic sanctions have already precipitated rising inflation, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, and further complications within Iran.
While it’s not entirely clear what those punitive measures will entail, Bessent has seemingly hinted that there will be secondary sanctions on countries that do business with Iran.
“I was in the presence of the Supreme Leader, and in his speeches as well, he openly stated that we must move beyond this state of ‘neither war nor peace,’” Pezeshkian claimed, per a translation referring to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who hasn’t been seen publicly since the war in Iran began.
READ MORE: Missouri Police Botch Sex Offender Arrest in Shocking Turn of Events
“We are not going to humiliatingly back down before the enemy or bow our heads. We can sit down with strength, but also with logic, and resolve our problems. This is possible, and we are also working to make it happen.”
Ironically, Khamenei recently elevated hardliners in Iran who lean towards resuming war over officials who favor trying to cut another deal with the US.
But similar to Pezeshkian, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf underscored the national security risks Iran faces if the theocratic regime continues to deal with a full-blown economic crisis.
“No matter how much military power we have, if our people are struggling and the country lacks financial circulation and economic growth, we will not achieve progress,” he said, per Iranian state media. “As someone who has experienced war, [I] understand the true value of peace.”
Throughout the prior negotiations with Iran, top Trump administration officials complained that they were getting conflicting responses from Iran. The MOU, which Trump signed in June, collapsed after Iran launched several attacks on vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has long made clear that his primary goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. But he also wants the Strait of Hormuz to be fully reopened.
Already, the administration has claimed it is securing between 8 million and 9 million barrels of oil through the critical waterway daily. Before the war began, it was roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day.
“They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal,” the president told reporters on Friday.