Iran's President Says US Holds Key to Ending War

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the United States has the power to determine when the ongoing war will end, responding to a question about whether the conflict could conclude by year's end. "But we do not want to continue. America is the one that must decide if it wants to end it or not," Pezeshkian said in an interview with Fox News. He had previously asserted at the UN General Assembly that Tehran would never yield to U.S. pressure, despite significant differences between the two sides on how to resolve the war.

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously threatened to "destroy" Iran if a peace deal was not reached, while also hinting at a potential imminent agreement. The conflict, which began on February 28, involves attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, with Tehran retaliating against Israel and U.S.-based facilities in Gulf states. Trump has cited the weakening of Iran's nuclear capabilities as a war aim, a claim Iran denies, asserting its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that it adheres to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Separately, representatives from the Abraham Accords nations, Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, held their first joint meeting since January 2023 in New York. Convened by the N7 Foundation, which promotes the accords, the meeting also included U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, and a representative from Kazakhstan. Discussions focused on strengthening the Abraham Accords, which the U.S. has found challenging to expand since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.