Iran President Calls for End to War, Cites Strength and Victory

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday, August 21, 2026, that it is time to end the monthslong war with the United States, arguing that Tehran is negotiating from a position of strength and dignity. Speaking in a meeting with doctors, Pezeshkian stated that the world recognizes Iran's victory while condemning U.S. attacks on schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

His remarks came just one day after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans for what he called a campaign of the toughest sanctions in history, aiming to collapse the Iranian regime. The conflict, which began in February 2026, has entered its sixth month, with both sides locked in a stalemate. The U.S. has maintained a naval counterblockade, while Iran has partially shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil shipping.

Pezeshkian defended a memorandum of understanding reached with Washington in June that was intended to end the war, rejecting criticism from hardline lawmakers in Iran's parliament who accused the government of conceding too much. He asserted that the agreement contained no clauses indicating capitulation and was a major achievement approved by Iran's...