Iranian president says time to end war with US from ‘position of strength’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran seeks to end months of hostilities with Washington after asserting Iran’s position of strength in the stalled talks.
Source: Al Jazeera · August 22, 2026 at 2:31 AM · AI-assisted report
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WASHINGTON, 22 AUGUST 2026 —
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran seeks to end months of hostilities with Washington after asserting Iran’s position of strength in the stalled talks.
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“It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity,” Pezeshkian told doctors on Friday. He added that “the whole world acknowledges our victory” and condemned US attacks on Iranian schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
Pezeshkian, whose authority is subordinate to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, defended the June memorandum of understanding with Washington against hardline critics in parliament who accused his administration of conceding to US demands.
“They cannot find even a single clause in this agreement that indicates capitulation,” he said. “All the commitments concern the other side.”
Days after the memorandum expired, Iran’s armed forces reiterated their readiness to retaliate. Major-General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said the military is prepared “across land, sea, air, air defence and cyberspace” to respond to new threats with “crushing, punishing and devastating” strikes.
Oman’s foreign minister discussed with his Iranian counterpart ways to resume dialogue and address developments in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman’s state news agency. The waterway remains partially closed by Iran while Washington maintains a counterblockade.
US media reported that Washington has been organising secret tanker convoys through the southern sector, enabling the export of between five and 10 million barrels of oil daily. President Donald Trump said he remains sceptical of Tehran’s willingness to negotiate.
“We have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump told reporters. “They would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal.”
Trump warned that Washington would impose economic penalties on any country providing “any type of lifeline to Iran.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will outline new sanctions against Iran on Monday, marking a shift by the Trump administration toward economic pressure as the war approaches its six-month mark.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the planned measures, calling them “economic terrorism.” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian criticised the US approach, stating that “sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue.”
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