'Full-Scale War': Pezeshkian Says Iran Won't Yield As US Targets Military, Communications Sites
'Full-Scale War': Pezeshkian Says Iran Won't Yield As US Targets Military, Communications Sites Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 18:28 IST The Iranian president
'Full-Scale War': Pezeshkian Says Iran Won't Yield As US Targets Military, Communications Sites Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 18:28 IST The Iranian president stressed that Iran would continue to stand by its national position despite mounting pressure from Washington. File image of United States President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. (Source: Reuters) US-Iran War: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that the country is in a “full-scale war" with the United States, saying Tehran will not retreat from its rights, interests or principles as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate. Speaking during a public address on Sunday, Pezeshkian said the ongoing conflict was “not just about missiles" and argued that Iran’s adversaries had failed to force the country into submission through military action. “Today’s war is not just about missiles, and the enemy has realised its inability to force our people to surrender through military attack," he said. The Iranian president stressed that Iran would continue to stand by its national position despite mounting pressure from Washington. Calls for unity amid growing tensions As the standoff with the United States deepens, Pezeshkian urged the country to remain united.
“Today, we need unity, solidarity and decision-making based on collective wisdom more than ever before," he said. His remarks came as mediators sought to ease the conflict. According to Reuters, mediators have proposed a 10-day halt to the strikes and called for reviving the interim ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the conflict. The interim deal, reached last month, has since collapsed as both Iran and the United States continue to exchange fire. Iran rejects claims of concessions to US Pezeshkian also dismissed claims that Tehran had made concessions to the United States under the recently announced memorandum of understanding. “We did not offer any concessions in the memorandum of understanding. Most of it was in our favour, and it does not achieve a unilateral interest for Washington," he said. He further maintained that Iran had not compromised on any of its core positions while agreeing to the provisions of the memorandum. “We have not retreated from any of our rights, interests or principles in the provisions of the memorandum of understanding," the president said. The remarks underline Tehran’s insistence that the agreement does not favour Washington at Iran’s expense.
US-Iran mediation continues The Iranian president’s comments came even as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high, with both sides continuing to exchange sharp rhetoric despite announcing the memorandum of understanding. Earlier, Tehran said diplomatic exchanges with the United States were continuing through mediators despite American military strikes on the Islamic Republic. “We have been informed by mediators, we have received messages — without going into details — but the main point is that the diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days and ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during a press conference in Tehran, according to AFP. The latest statements reflect Iran’s dual approach of maintaining diplomatic contacts through intermediaries while publicly insisting that it will not compromise on what it describes as its national rights, interests and principles. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What are the long-term implications of this 'full-scale war' declaration? Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian declared a "full-scale war" with the US, stating Iran will not yield.
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