Tehran (EFE).— Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian declared Iran is engaged in a “total war” against the United States, Israel and Europe in remarks published Saturday accusing Western powers of surrounding Iran politically, economically and militarily to weaken the country.
“We are in a total war with the US, Israel and Europe. They do not want our country to stand,” Pezeshkian said in an interview published on the website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Pezeshkian said the current confrontation is more complex than Iran’s 1980–1988 war with Iraq, which he described as a conventional military conflict.
“Now they are surrounding us on all fronts,” he said. “They put us under pressure, creating economic, cultural, political and security problems.”
His remarks come as Iran faces renewed international sanctions over its nuclear program.
US and UN measures have severely affected Iran’s economy, which is struggling with annual inflation of about 42% and a rapidly weakening national currency.
Since the reimposition of international sanctions in late September, pushed by Germany, France and the United Kingdom, the Iranian rial has lost more than 24% of its value.
Conflict with Israel and US role
Tensions escalated further in June, when Iran and Israel fought a 12-day war that included strikes on Iranian nuclear, military and civilian facilities. Iranian authorities said more than 1,000 people were killed, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists.
Iran retaliated with daily missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, killing around 30 people, according to Israeli figures.
The US also entered the conflict, carrying out strikes against Iran’s three main nuclear facilities, further deepening hostilities.
Nuclear talks remain frozen
The war effectively halted nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran has refused to resume talks, arguing that US demands are excessive.
Washington has called on Iran to halt uranium enrichment, limit the range of its ballistic missiles and end support for regional armed groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas.
Iran has repeatedly rejected those conditions, saying they undermine its sovereignty and national security. EFE
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