Washington: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran is facing what he described as a full scale war environment involving the United States Israel and European powers as tensions rise ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In his remarks Pezeshkian said the pressure on Iran goes far beyond the battlefield. He pointed to long standing economic sanctions political isolation cyber activity and security threats as part of a broad campaign aimed at weakening the country. According to him these combined measures amount to a continuous state of confrontation even in the absence of an officially declared war.
The Iranian leader said Tehran does not seek a new military conflict but stressed that Iran would respond decisively if attacked. He warned that any fresh strikes on Iranian territory or interests would be met with a firm reaction adding that the country has learned to operate under pressure and will not retreat from defending its sovereignty.
His comments come as attention turns to the upcoming talks between Trump and Netanyahu which are expected to focus heavily on Middle East security.
Key issues likely to be discussed include the situation in Gaza Iran’s nuclear programme missile development and Iran’s regional influence. Israeli officials have repeatedly described Iran as their main security threat and have sought strong US backing to counter Tehran.
The United States for its part has signalled that it wants to avoid a wider regional war while continuing to apply pressure on Iran through sanctions and diplomacy. Officials close to the talks say Washington is trying to balance support for Israel with efforts to prevent further escalation that could draw multiple countries into open conflict.
Tensions between Iran and Israel remain high following limited direct clashes earlier this year that ended with a fragile ceasefire. While large scale fighting has not resumed mistrust remains deep and both sides continue to accuse each other of hostile actions.
Analysts say Pezeshkian’s strong language is partly aimed at sending a warning message ahead of the Trump Netanyahu meeting and partly at addressing domestic audiences inside Iran who are facing economic hardship under sanctions. By framing the situation as a broad war of pressure Iran’s leadership appears to be preparing the public for continued difficulties while signalling resolve to foreign powers.
For now diplomatic channels remain open but the rhetoric on all sides underlines how delicate the situation is. Observers say the outcome of the Trump Netanyahu talks could play a key role in shaping the next phase of relations between Iran the United States and Israel and determining whether tensions ease or rise further in the months ahead.