Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian states it is wrong to portray Iran as a threat, emphasizing that Iran does not harbor any hostility toward ordinary Americans. He said Iran has the necessary will to end the ongoing war with Israel and the United States, but is seeking guarantees to prevent repetition of aggression. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said peace talks with Iran are ongoing and progressing well, adding that what Tehran says publicly differs from what it tells U.S. officials privately. Meanwhile, Donald Trump claimed Iran's president asked for a ceasefire, but said the U.S. would consider it only when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free, and clear, otherwise continuing to blast Iran into oblivion.
President Pezeshkian outlined Iran's historical and defensive stance, declaring that Iran has never, in its modern history, chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism, or domination. He asserted that Iran has never initiated a war, at least since the founding of the United States, and has resolutely and bravely repelled those who have attacked it. The Iranian people harbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighboring countries, according to Pezeshkian. He added that Iranians consistently distinguish between governments and the peoples they govern, a deeply rooted principle in Iranian culture, framing Iran's actions as a measured response grounded in legitimate self-defense, not an initiation of war or aggression.
We respect your sovereignty and believe that the security and stability of the region must be achieved through the collective efforts of its nations.
Iran criticizes the U.S. military presence as threatening, with Pezeshkian stating that the United States has concentrated the largest number of its forces, bases, and military capabilities around Iran. He argued that recent American aggressions launched from bases around Iran demonstrate how threatening such a military presence is. This concentration, according to Iranian officials, contributes to regional instability and justifies Iran's defensive posture.
Historical grievances shape Iran's current distrust, with Pezeshkian citing the 1953 coup d'état as an illegal American intervention aimed at preventing the nationalization of Iran's resources. He stated that the coup disrupted Iran's democratic process, reinstated dictatorship, and sowed deep distrust among Iranians toward U.S. policies. This event remains a foundational reference in Iranian political discourse, influencing perceptions of U.S. intentions and reinforcing calls for sovereignty and non-interference.
Iran has the 'necessary will' to end the ongoing war with Israel and the United States, but is seeking guarantees to prevent repetition of aggression.
Amid ongoing hostilities, Iran remains resolute in defending itself against American and Israeli aggressors using all of its capacities, according to President Pezeshkian. The violence has resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 people across the country, including women and children, according to Iranian health officials. Attacks on Iran's vital infrastructure harm the Iranian people and have consequences beyond Iran's borders, Pezeshkian said, noting that the ongoing hostilities have destroyed vital and industrial infrastructures, as well as strikes targeting schools and hospitals.
In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran justifies its actions under international law, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that Iran's actions to prevent the passage of vessels associated with the aggressors through the Strait of Hormuz are in accordance with international law. Such measures are aimed at safeguarding security in the strategic waterway and are intended to prevent further military attacks, Araghchi explained. Tehran has maintained a responsible approach by facilitating safe passage for non-hostile vessels and tankers through coordination with relevant Iranian authorities, he added. Araghchi asserted that the illegal aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime is the primary driver of insecurity in the region and the Strait of Hormuz.
Countries upset by high fuel prices should 'go get your own oil'.
International reactions have called for de-escalation, with European Council President António Costa urging Iran to de-escalate, stop attacks on countries in the region, and engage diplomatically to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said the next days of the Iran war will be decisive and refused to rule out U.S. ground forces playing a role. Donald Trump expressed frustration towards allies unwilling to help the U.S. reopen the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz by force, stating countries upset by high fuel prices should go get your own oil.
Contradictions over ceasefire and talks persist, as Iran rejected as false Donald Trump's claims that the regime has sought a ceasefire deal, according to the foreign ministry and president's spokesperson. U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said talks on ending the war were making progress even as the military campaign continued, describing them as very real, ongoing, active, and gaining strength. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that peace talks with Iran are ongoing and progressing well, highlighting a disconnect between public statements and private diplomacy.
The U.S. would consider it only when the Strait of Hormuz is 'open, free, and clear', otherwise continuing to 'blast Iran into oblivion'.
Trump has outlined a war update and future plans, with multiple reports indicating he is set to give an update on the war, revealing a two-to-three-week timetable for bringing it to an end. According to Daily Express - World, Donald Trump described U.S. forces as expected to pull out of Iran in the near future but could return for spot hits if required, and that Iran is incapable of having a nuclear weapon now. Trump's conditions for a ceasefire hinge on the Strait of Hormuz being open, free, and clear, as he stated publicly.
Iran accuses the U.S. of acting as a proxy force for Israel, with President Pezeshkian claiming the war started because Israel had decided to fight Iran to the last American soldier. He asserted that the US has committed war crimes by attacking Iran’s critical infrastructure, and that attacking such targets was a sign of US confusion and the inability to find a lasting solution. These accusations frame the conflict as part of a broader regional proxy struggle, complicating diplomatic resolutions.
U.S. forces are expected to pull out of Iran in the near future but could return for 'spot hits' if required, and that Iran is incapable of having a nuclear weapon now.
Diplomatic context includes uncertainties, as Tehran was engaged in indirect negotiations with the United States at the moment Washington initiated its strikes and bombing campaign, according to President Pezeshkian. The exact timetable and conditions for U.S. forces pulling out of Iran as mentioned by Trump remain unclear, and the current status of indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. and whether they are still ongoing is not publicly confirmed. Additionally, what specific guarantees Iran is seeking to prevent repetition of aggression before ending the war has not been detailed.
Public outreach efforts are underway, with major media reports indicating Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is to release an important letter to U.S. members of the public in hours, as announced by his spokesperson Mehdi Tabatabai. Pezeshkian's letter was published in full by the state channel Press TV, according to multiple reports. This move aligns with his claim that Iran does not harbor any hostility toward ordinary Americans, aiming to bypass governmental channels and appeal directly to the American populace.
Broader implications involve Iran framing threat perception as manufactured, with President Pezeshkian stating that the perception of Iran as a threat is a product of political and economic whims of the powerful to manufacture an enemy. He declared that Iran will weather the conflict, and the US must choose between confrontation and engagement. This framing positions Iran as a resilient actor offering a diplomatic path, while warning of continued resistance if confrontation persists, shaping the narrative for international audiences and domestic morale.