Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian says time has come to end war with US

Tehran, Iran - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Friday that it was time to end the protracted Middle East conflict with the United States due to Tehran's perceived superiority over Washington. The ongoing dialogue between the two traditional adversaries remains suspended, with both nations entrenched in a deadlock stemming from the war initiated by the US and Israel in February.

Iran has partially blocked the vital Strait of Hormuz, while the United States continues its naval blockade. President Pezeshkian stressed that achieving a resolution was now crucial, as Iran was on the offensive and deserved respect. The global community has acknowledged Iran's triumph, highlighting the US violations of international norms and its targeted attacks on Iranian facilities.

Pezeshkian defended a June memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, arguing that it did not signify Tehran's defeat. The agreement primarily pertains to the other party's commitments, according to Pezeshkian. Despite Supreme Leader Khamenei's endorsement of the deal, hardline members of Iran's parliament have criticized the government for concessions to the US, notably the reopening of the strategic Hormuz Strait.

Reports from US media suggest that American forces have been coordinating and safeguarding secret tanker convoys through the southern portion of the Hormuz Strait, allowing for the export of 5-10 million barrels of oil daily. Iran claims to hold the upper hand, whereas the US has threatened to intensify sanctions to exert pressure on Tehran.

The American strategy has drawn criticism from Iran's foreign ministry, which accused the US of economic terrorism and crimes against humanity. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, vowed that Washington would "collapse" the Iranian regime through its economic campaign, which began six months ago following the outbreak of the war.

The administration is now focusing on economic pressure instead of military action due to the ongoing unpopularity of the conflict. China also criticized the US economic plan, asserting that sanctions and pressure would not resolve the Middle East crisis. They called for responsible measures to address the issue through political and diplomatic means.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the White House on September 24, where the topic of Iran is expected to arise. US Treasury Secretary Bessent emphasized that the economic sanctions plan aimed to reduce the likelihood of resuming heavy military operations against Iran.