Iranian official Masoud Pezeshkian called for an end to the months‑long war with the US, stating that Tehran is currently in a “position of strength and dignity.” His remarks came as Washington prepared to intensify economic sanctions against Iran, which the US refers to as “Economic D‑Day.”
“It is better for us to end the war now, as we are in a position of strength and dignity,” Pezeshkian said on Friday. He added that “the whole world recognizes our victory” and accused the US of striking Iranian schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure.
Earlier, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US of “economic terrorism” and “crimes against humanity” after Washington announced its intention to tighten sanctions to exert additional pressure on Tehran. “The perpetrators and instigators of these sanctions deserve to be tried and punished for committing such heinous crimes,” the statement distributed by state media read.
Other high‑ranking Iranian officials also criticized the US plan. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on the X platform that the so‑called “Economic D‑Day” is an attempt to divert attention from the US’s own problems, including unprecedented national debt and rising servicing costs.
Negotiations suspended, China calls for diplomacy
Negotiations between the parties remain suspended, and the war, which began in late February, has reached a stalemate. Tehran continues to block the key Strait of Hormuz, while Washington supports a naval counter‑blockade of Iran.
The US has called on other governments, including China, to join efforts to isolate Iran’s economy. Responding to questions about threats from US President Donald Trump, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday that “sanctions and pressure will not help solve the problem.” “China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means,” he added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the White House on September 24, where the topic of Iran is likely to be one of the discussion points. It was also raised during Trump‘s visit to Beijing for the summit in May.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that intensifying economic sanctions against Iran reduces the likelihood that Washington will have to resort to large‑scale military operations against the country. He noted that additional details about the measures will be presented at a press conference on Monday.
Economic difficulties and political pressure
Iran has been under Western sanctions for years and has learned to partially circumvent them. The country has expanded domestic production, used informal cross‑border trade networks, purchased export‑restricted goods through third countries, and employed a “shadow fleet” to transport its oil.
“Iran’s resilience not only prevents collapse but also stops economic pain from turning into political pressure and changes that the US is counting on,” said Hadi Kahalzadeh, an expert on Iran’s economy from Brandeis University.
Meanwhile, according to the International Monetary Fund, inflation in Iran is expected to reach nearly 70% by the end of the year, and the economy is projected to contract by more than 5%. Gasoline remains cheap due to state subsidies, but this may change as supplies become increasingly limited.
A presidential aide told Iranian state television last week that the country uses more gasoline daily than it produces. Because of this, Tehran may have to raise fuel prices—a step that has previously sparked large‑scale protests.
Amid economic difficulties, Pezeshkian said his government advocates resolving the war through negotiations. “We are concerned about the welfare of the people and their economic situation, and we are doing everything possible to address this,” he told journalists last week.
However, the most influential force in Iran remains the elite paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has grown stronger after withstanding US and Israeli airstrikes that killed Iran’s top leaders in the early stages of the war. The IRGC insists on greater concessions from the US, including Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and financial compensation for the conflict.
As negotiations to end the war have stalled, hardliners in Iran believe the country can withstand economic pressure longer than its opponents. This month, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei appointed a former IRGC commander as head of Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council, signaling a continued hardline stance.
