Iran President Pezeshkian Says War With US Should End While Tehran Is ‘Strong and Honoured’
TEHRAN, Aug 21: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the war with the United States should eventually end while Iran remains in a position of strength, as Tehran faces mounting economic pressure from sanctions and a naval blockade.
Addressing the 31st General Assembly of the Islamic Association of Iran's Medical Community on Friday, Pezeshkian said, “It is better to end the war today, while we are strong and honoured.”
The Iranian president claimed that the international community had recognised Iran's victory and condemned the United States for attacks on schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
However, Pezeshkian also acknowledged growing public dissatisfaction inside Iran, saying economic difficulties had been aggravated by the ongoing conflict.
“If there is dissatisfaction or grievance in society, it means that we have not acted as we should have,” he said.
Pezeshkian blamed US sanctions and the naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels for disrupting Iran's imports and exports. He said the restrictions were putting additional pressure on the country's economy, which relies heavily on oil exports.
The president also questioned the sustainability of Iran's fuel subsidy system. He highlighted the wide gap between the government's cost of purchasing petrol and the heavily subsidised price at which it is sold domestically.
“Who said the government should buy gasoline at 130,000 tomans and then sell it for 1,500 tomans?” Pezeshkian asked.
He warned that continuing such subsidies could leave the government with insufficient resources for other essential programmes, including food subsidies and insurance, potentially affecting workers, retirees and civil servants.
Nearly six months into the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, the Iranian economy has come under severe strain from sanctions and restrictions on maritime trade. The blockade has made it increasingly difficult for Tehran to export oil, a crucial source of revenue.
Despite its long experience in circumventing international sanctions, Iran has been seeking sanctions relief while attempting to strengthen its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
Tehran views control over the strategic waterway as an important advantage in negotiations over the country's economic and security interests.
