Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Friday that the time has come to end the war with the United States, arguing that Tehran currently holds a strong and dignified position. Pezeshkian called a June memorandum of understanding — a 14-point deal signed in Islamabad with Pakistani and Qatari mediation — a major achievement, though the 60-day negotiation window toward a final agreement expired on Monday. Talks between the two sides remain suspended, and Iran continues to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict began when the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. A ceasefire has nominally been in place since April 8, though both sides have violated it. Tehran has accused Washington of breaching the memorandum and committing economic terrorism and crimes against humanity.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to tighten economic sanctions, saying the measures would reduce the need for large-scale military operations.