In a stark declaration, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that his nation is engaged in a 'full-scale war' with the United States, Israel, and Europe. He accused Western powers of a concerted campaign to destabilise Iran's government and society.
Accusations of a Coordinated Western Siege
President Pezeshkian made these remarks in an interview published on the official website of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He asserted that the West is besieging Iran from every direction, creating severe difficulties. 'They are putting us in difficulty and constraint, creating problems — in terms of livelihood, culturally, politically, and security-wise,' Pezeshkian said.
He highlighted the dual pressure of economic sanctions and rising public expectations. 'On one side, they block our sales, our exchanges, our trade, and on the other side, expectations in society have risen,' the President noted, calling for a unified national effort to fix the country's challenges.
Hardline Stance After June Attacks
This rhetoric reinforces a hardline position adopted by Iranian leadership following a major US and Israel-led aerial assault in June. According to reports, the 12-day attack targeted Iran's primary nuclear facilities and resulted in significant casualties. It is estimated that approximately 1,100 Iranians were killed, a figure that includes senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.
The attack has significantly heightened tensions, with Tehran viewing it as a direct act of war. Pezeshkian's comments reflect the government's stance that the nation is under an existential threat from foreign adversaries.
Trump's Stark Warning and Support for Israel
In response to Iran's ongoing nuclear and missile activities, former US President Donald Trump issued a severe warning. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump indicated Washington would consider further military action.
'Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them,' Trump stated bluntly. He confirmed that the US would back Israeli strikes against Iran's missile programme if necessary, adding that action on the nuclear front would be swift.
Trump praised the recent military coordination, claiming Washington and Israel had been 'extremely victorious' against their enemies, citing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and the June strikes on Iran.
The Nuclear Deal Standoff
Despite Iran's consistent denial that it seeks nuclear weapons—maintaining its programme is for peaceful civilian energy—Trump linked the nation's nuclear capabilities directly to its military ambitions. He insisted that Tehran should return to the negotiating table for a deal with the United States.
'If they want to make a deal, that’s much smarter. They could have made a deal the last time before we went through a big attack on them, and they decided not to make the deal. They wish they made that deal,' the former President remarked, suggesting Iran missed a critical opportunity for diplomacy.
The exchange of sharp rhetoric between Iranian and US leadership marks a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region, with both sides preparing for potential confrontation.
