Iran president says time to end war while in position of strength
A handout photo made available by the Iranian Presidential Office shows Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian attending a press conference in the capital Tehran, Aug. 8. AFP-Yonhap
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday it was time to end the months-long Middle East war with the United States because Tehran was in a position of strength over Washington.
Talks between the decades-old foes remain on hold, with both sides in the war started by the U.S. and Israel in February locked in a stalemate.
Tehran is keeping the key Strait of Hormuz partially shut and Washington is persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran.
"It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity," Pezeshkian said in a meeting with doctors.
"The whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America has attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world."
His comments came after Iran's foreign ministry accused the U.S. of "economic terrorism" and "crimes against humanity" after Washington said it would ramp up sanctions to heap pressure on Tehran.
"The perpetrators and instigators of these sanctions are deserving of trial and punishment for committing such heinous crimes," it said in a statement carried by state media.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday vowed Washington would "collapse" the Iranian regime with its threatened campaign nearly six months since their war began.
The comments underscored how the Trump administration is shifting to economic rather than military pressure on Tehran as the U.S. president's unpopular war drags on.
China also criticized Washington's economic plan, saying that U.S. "sanctions and pressure" would not resolve the Middle East conflict.
'Economic D-Day'
Washington had urged other governments including Beijing to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy.
Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's threats, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Friday that "sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue".
"China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means," he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit the White House on September 24 when the topic of Iran is sure to come up, as it did when Trump travelled to Beijing for a summit in May.
Bessent said the plan to ramp up economic sanctions against Iran meant Washington was less likely to have to return to heavy military operations against the country.
The U.S. Treasury chief said he would give further details of the economic measures against Iran during a press conference on Monday.
Other senior Iranian officials also criticized the U.S. sanctions plan.
"The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.