Pezeshkian says better to end war now as Iran in ‘position of strength’
Tehran, Aug 21 (IANS) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that it is better to end the war now as Iran is in a position of “power and dignity.”
Pezeshkian made the remarks at the 31st General Assembly of the Islamic Association of the Iranian Medical Society in the capital Tehran, where he stressed that the war with the United States must end at some point, according to a statement published on his office’s website.
“It is better that we end the war today when we are in a position of power and dignity, and the entire world acknowledges our victory and emphasises that the United States, in violation of all (international) regulations, has attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and is hated in the world,” he said.
Pezeshkian described the peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Iran and the United States in June as “honourable and valuable,” stressing that not a single provision of the MoU suggests surrender and that all obligations fall on the other party, Xinhua News Agency reported.
He noted that what was accomplished during the negotiations with the United States was a “great achievement,” which was approved with “unity and solidarity” in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and all members of the council defended it decisively.
The President, however, emphasised that Iran will not surrender if attacked again, saying, “We will under no circumstance bow to bullying, and there is no doubt about it.”
“We will stand against them until our last breath and will give them a crushing response,” he said, adding that Iran’s military commanders and armed forces are “wholeheartedly and selflessly” in full readiness to defend the country.
On June 18, Iran and the United States signed the MoU on ending their war in the region on all fronts. Under the MoU, the two countries were scheduled to hold negotiations within a period of 60 days, which ended on Monday, to reach a final agreement. However, the fate of the talks remains unclear following an escalation between the two countries last month.
–IANS
ksk/as