Iran's President: US Must Choose Between Ending or Continuing War

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the United States must decide whether it wants to end the war with Iran, asserting that Tehran is prepared for an agreement but does not fear continued fighting. In an interview with Fox News, broadcast on Thursday, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran does not desire prolonged conflict, saying, "When we can solve problems through dialogue, we should not resort to killing each other." He accused Israel of inciting war but reiterated Iran's unwillingness to continue hostilities, placing the choice squarely on America. "America is the one that must choose whether it wants to end this matter or not," he added.

Speaking to NBC, Pezeshkian indicated Iran's desire to reach a deal with the Trump administration before the midterm congressional elections, though he downplayed the urgency of the timing. "If the current US administration wants to reach an agreement within international legal frameworks, that's fine. But if it doesn't want to, whether before or after the elections, what's the difference for us?" he questioned. He also raised concerns about the collapse of a ceasefire, asking why it was "sabotaged within two weeks of signing the agreement," while reaffirming Iran's readiness to finalize a deal with Trump to end the war.

Pezeshkian made these remarks while in New York for the UN General Assembly, where he also declared Iran would not "submit" to the United States, even as President Trump acknowledged ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran. The Iranian president noted his country's past openness to inspections of its nuclear sites but accused the US and Israel of violating international agreements related to Iran.

On the sidelines of the UN meetings, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, to discuss potential understandings, though no significant breakthroughs were announced. Regarding the Yemen conflict, Pezeshkian stated that the Houthi group is "responsible for its actions" and does not take directives from the Iranian government, though he acknowledged communication exists. This comes amid Saudi Arabia's announcement of intercepting Houthi rockets launched from Yemen, following brief warnings that included areas like Mecca.