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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday that the monthslong war with the United States should be brought to an end while Tehran is in a position of “power and dignity,” defending Iran’s recent agreement with Washington.
Speaking at an event with doctors, Pezeshkian said the outcome of negotiations was a “major achievement” approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency.
“What was achieved during the negotiations was a major accomplishment,” he said, adding that members of the council who were directly involved had firmly defended the agreement.
Pezeshkian described the agreement as “honorable and valuable,” rejecting criticism that Tehran had made concessions.
“They cannot find even a single clause in this agreement that indicates surrender; all the commitments are related to the other side,” he said.
The Iranian president said that the agreement, however,did not mean Tehran would submit in the event of another attack.
“We will under no circumstances bow to bullying,” he said. “We will stand against them until our last breath and give them a crushing response.”
Pezeshkian said the war should end at some point, arguing that the current circumstances offered an appropriate opportunity.
“It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity,” he said.
“The whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America has attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world,” he added.
Talks between Tehran and Washington remain on hold, with both sides locked in a stalemate months after the war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Tehran continues to keep the key Strait of Hormuz partially shut, while Washington is maintaining a naval counter-blockade of Iran.
Iran and the United States signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Islamabad on June 18 under Pakistani and Qatari mediation.
The memorandum provided for an end to the war and a 60-day period of negotiations toward a final agreement.
Tehran later accused Washington of violating the MoU, while Pakistan and Qatar have continued mediation between the two sides.
Pezeshkian’s comments came after Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity” after Washington said it would increase sanctions pressure on Tehran.
“The perpetrators and instigators of these sanctions are deserving of trial and punishment for committing such heinous crimes,” the ministry said in a statement carried by state media.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday vowed Washington would “collapse” the Iranian regime with its threatened campaign nearly six months after the war began.
The comments underscored how the Trump administration is shifting toward economic pressure on Tehran as U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpopular war drags on.
Bessent said the plan to increase economic sanctions against Iran meant Washington would be less likely to return to heavy military operations against the country.
The Treasury chief said he would provide further details of the economic measures against Iran at a news conference Monday.
China also criticized Washington’s economic plan, saying U.S. “sanctions and pressure” would not resolve the Middle East conflict.
Washington had urged other governments, including Beijing, to join efforts to isolate Iran’s economy.
Asked about Trump’s threats, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Friday that “sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue.”
“China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means,” Lin said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit the White House on Sept. 24, when Iran is expected to be discussed.
Trump also raised the issue when he traveled to Beijing for a summit in May.
Other senior Iranian officials also criticized the U.S. sanctions plan.
“The so-called ‘Economic D-Day’ is a diversion from America’s own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.
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