Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is in a "full-scale war" with the U.S., Israel and European countries, calling the confrontation more complex than the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq war. His remarks, published on the Supreme Leader's website, came two days before a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The article cites a recent 12-day air campaign in June that killed nearly 1,100 Iranians and Iranian missile strikes that killed 28 people in Israel. Pezeshkian warned that outside powers do not want Iran to remain stable.
Iranian President: 'Full-Scale War' With U.S., Israel and Europe — Worse Than 1980s Iran–Iraq War
This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that Iran is engaged in a "full-scale war" with the United States, Israel and European countries, comments published ahead of a planned meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The assessment appeared in an interview posted on the website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian warned that the current confrontation is more complex and severe than the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq war.
"We are in a full-scale war with the U.S., Israel and Europe; they don’t want our country to remain stable," Pezeshkian said.
How He Framed the Conflict
Pezeshkian described the West's campaign against Iran as "more complicated and more difficult" than the decade-long Iran–Iraq war, which he said caused more than one million casualties on both sides. He delivered the remarks two days before the scheduled Netanyahu–Trump meeting in the United States, where Iran was expected to be a central topic of discussion.
Recent Violence Cited
The article notes that Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran during a 12-day air campaign in June killed nearly 1,100 Iranians, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran's retaliatory missile barrages reportedly killed 28 people in Israel.
Context: The comments come amid heightened regional tensions and ahead of high-level diplomatic meetings. Pezeshkian's remarks were published on the Supreme Leader's website, underscoring Tehran's public stance as international leaders prepare to discuss security and policy responses.
