Ankara: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday that he does not support the continuation of war with the US, calling for the country's resilience to be strengthened for the next phase.
According to Anadolu Agency, Pezeshkian's remarks came during a meeting with heads of Iranian universities. Addressing the conflict with Washington, Pezeshkian stated, "I am not in favor of continuing the war, but we must strengthen the country's resilience in the face of upcoming developments."
He emphasized that enhancing the nation's resilience involves adopting a strategy that prevents Iran from negotiating with the "enemy" from a position of weakness. He urged universities to support the government in this initiative.
Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of aligning economic measures with existing social conditions, cautioning that uncalculated actions could be detrimental rather than beneficial.
He also noted the valuable contributions of Generation Z students, advocating for their involvement in developing solutions to societal issues rather than participating in protests.
The Iranian president reiterated his openness to collaborating with all political factions and individuals who can help address the country's challenges, stating that he has no political affiliations with specific groups.
The conflict between the US and Iran escalated after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran fired missiles at Israel and targeted US bases in several regional countries. Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz to navigation, disrupting global energy and trade flows.
On June 18, a memorandum of understanding was reached between Washington and Tehran to cease military operations. This included guarantees for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and initiating negotiations for a final agreement within 60 days. However, the agreement later broke down, leading to renewed confrontations in July, with the US resuming strikes on Iranian targets and reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports.