Pezeshkian: Iran does not want to continue the war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States must decide whether to end the ongoing conflict with Iran, stressing that Tehran does not want the war to continue but will respond strongly if attacks persist.

Asked whether the conflict could end by the end of the year, Pezeshkian said the decision ultimately rested with Washington.

“But we do not wish to continue. It's America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not,” Pezeshkian said in an interview aired on September 24 on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier.

Pezeshkian said Iran had not chosen the conflict and warned that Tehran would respond if the United States continued military action.

“We did not choose war, the war was imposed on us. We do not seek war,” he said. “We never started a war. But if they wish to keep fighting with us, we will respond strongly, resolutely.”

The Iranian president also rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran was waiting until after the US midterm elections to reach an agreement. Pezeshkian accused Washington of seeking to destabilise Iran and undermine its political system.

“Trump kept saying, ‘I want to bring a gift to the people of Iran,’” Pezeshkian said. “But the gift that they brought us were guided missiles, heavy weapons and destruction.”

At the same time, Pezeshkian stressed that Tehran remained open to diplomacy. He referred to a memorandum of understanding reached between Iran and the United States in June, saying that Tehran was still willing to move forward on the basis of the agreement.

“We did reach an agreement with your president,” Pezeshkian said. “That agreement was signed, and based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward.”

Pezeshkian also denied that Iran had ever sought nuclear weapons, citing a religious ruling by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against their possession. His remarks come amid longstanding international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear programme and uranium enrichment activities.

The Iranian president made similar remarks during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he said Iran would not surrender and would continue to defend itself.

By Vugar Khalilov