Amid rising tensions in West Asia, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the country is fighting a “full-fledged war with America, Israel, and Europe.” He made the remarks in an interview published on Saturday on the Iranian supreme leader’s official website.
Pezeshkian said Western powers do not want Iran to become strong or self-reliant. “They do not want our country to stand on its feet,” he said. He then compared the current situation with the eight-year Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. “This war is worse than Iraq’s war against us,” he added.
According to him, the present conflict is more complex and harder to manage. “If one understands it well, this war is far more complex and difficult than that war,” he said. He explained that during the Iran-Iraq war, the enemy was clear and the battlefield was visible. “In the war with Iraq, the situation was clear; they fired missiles, and we knew where to hit,” he said.
In contrast, Pezeshkian claimed that Iran now faces pressure from all sides. “Here, they are besieging us from every aspect; they are creating problems for us in terms of livelihood, culturally, politically, and security-wise,” he said.
Iran Warns of a Stronger Response
In the same interview, Iranian officials spoke about the possibility of future clashes with the United States and Israel. They claimed Iran is now far better prepared than before.
“Despite all the problems we face, we are now, in terms of both equipment and personnel, far stronger than we were during their previous attacks,” the officials said. They warned that any new strike would trigger a serious reaction. “Therefore, if they choose to strike, they will then naturally face a more decisive response,” they added.
Why the Timing Matters
The interview comes at a sensitive moment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday.
Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said the talks would focus on next steps in the region. “They will discuss the future steps and phases, and the International Stabilisation Force of the ceasefire plan,” she said.
Meanwhile, US officials continue to express concern over Iran’s role in the region. Just days before Pezeshkian’s interview, a US State Department official told Walla that Washington sees Iran’s actions in West Asia and beyond as destabilising.
However, the American official said the Trump administration prefers pressure over direct conflict. The US, he noted, aims to tighten control through sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and international isolation, rather than opening a new military front like the conflict seen in June.