Pezeshkian Says US Must Choose When Iran War Ends

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States holds the key to ending the Iran war, signaling that Tehran does not want the conflict to continue but will not surrender under US pressure.

Asked whether the war could end before the close of 2026, Pezeshkian said the decision ultimately rests with Washington. “We do not wish to continue. It’s America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not,” he said during an interview aired Thursday on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

His remarks followed a defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, where Pezeshkian said Iran would resist military and economic pressure while remaining willing to pursue diplomacy. Tehran has maintained that negotiations are possible, but not under threats or coercion.

The comments came amid sharp rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who said Tuesday that Washington could “annihilate” Iran if an agreement to end the conflict is not reached. Trump also suggested that a diplomatic settlement could come soon.

The war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran responded with strikes against Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases. The conflict has since caused extensive casualties and displacement across the region.

One of Trump’s stated objectives has been weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Pezeshkian, however, reiterated at the UN that Tehran is not pursuing nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear activities are intended for peaceful purposes.

Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and maintains that it has the right to develop civilian nuclear technology. With Washington and Tehran still divided over the terms of ending the conflict, diplomacy remains uncertain despite both sides publicly discussing the possibility of negotiations.