Iran’s president says it is up to US to choose if it wants to end Iran war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that it is the United States' decision to determine when the Iran war will conclude, when questioned about the possibility of the conflict ending by year's end. "But we do not wish to continue. It's America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not," Pezeshkian stated in an interview that aired on Thursday on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" show.

The Iranian president told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Tehran would not yield to US pressure as the two sides remained far apart on the matter of ending the war. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he could "annihilate" Iran if no deal is reached to end the war, but also hinted that an agreement might be forthcoming soon.

Trump has offered fluctuating targets and timelines for the war, which began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.

Trump has mentioned weakening Iran's nuclear capabilities as one of his war objectives. Iran, which does not possess nuclear weapons, denies pursuing them. The US is a nuclear-armed nation. Tehran asserts its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).