Iran’s Pezeshkian says West is waging ‘total war’ on Tehran ahead of Trump–Netanyahu talks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is locked in a “total war” with the United States, Israel and Europe, casting the confrontation as a broad campaign designed to weaken the Islamic Republic on political, economic and security fronts.

Iranian Parliament

In comments published Saturday on the official website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian argued the pressure facing Iran is more complex than the 1980s Iran–Iraq war, portraying today’s conflict as a multifaceted struggle that goes beyond conventional battlefields.

The remarks come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, with Iran expected to feature prominently in the talks amid renewed fears of regional escalation.

Pezeshkian’s comments follow a sharp deterioration in relations after a 12-day air war in June, when Israeli and U.S. strikes hit targets in Iran and Iran launched retaliatory missile attacks into Israel. News reports citing official figures said the June strikes killed roughly 1,100 people in Iran, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists, while Iranian retaliation killed dozens in Israel.

He also warned that any new attack would draw a stronger response, according to accounts of the interview carried by regional and international outlets.

The president’s warning arrives as Iran grapples with fresh diplomatic and economic headwinds. European powers — France, Germany and the United Kingdom — were reported to have backed the reimposition of U.N. sanctions in September tied to Iran’s nuclear program, while U.S. sanctions continue to restrict Iran’s trade and oil revenues.

Iran’s economy has been under acute strain, with reports putting inflation around the low-40% range and describing a steep slide in the rial in recent months, fueling public frustration and adding pressure on Pezeshkian’s government.

Nuclear diplomacy also remains stalled. Reporting on the dispute says Washington has pushed Iran to halt uranium enrichment and curb its missile program and support for regional armed groups — conditions Tehran rejects as infringements on sovereignty and national security.