Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said on Saturday that the country is in a full-scale war with the United States, Israel, and European nations. His comments came just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Pezeshkian told the Supreme Leader’s website that the current conflict is more severe than Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, which claimed over one million lives on both sides. He described the West’s campaign against Iran as “more complicated and more difficult” than that earlier war.
The president said foreign powers do not want Iran to remain stable and accused them of engaging in sustained attacks on the country.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions following a 12-day air war in June, during which Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iranian sites. Nearly 1,100 Iranians, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists, were reportedly killed. Iran retaliated with missile barrages that killed 28 people in Israel.
The upcoming Netanyahu-Trump meeting is expected to focus on Iran’s military activities, nuclear program, and regional influence. Analysts say Pezeshkian’s statements signal Tehran’s growing alarm over international pressure and potential military escalation.
Iran has repeatedly condemned what it calls foreign interference in its affairs. Pezeshkian’s latest remarks emphasize Tehran’s perception of a multi-front conflict involving military, economic, and political measures by Western powers.
Experts warn that such rhetoric could raise tensions in the Middle East, potentially affecting security and stability across the region. Diplomatic efforts remain ongoing, but Pezeshkian’s description of the situation underscores Iran’s sense of being under siege by multiple global powers.