Iran’s Pezeshkian says US, Israel and Europe are waging a “full-fledged war”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the United States, Israel and European powers of waging a “full-fledged war” against Iran, sharpening rhetoric ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Speaking on Saturday in an interview published on the official website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian framed the pressure on Iran as a coordinated campaign spanning military, economic and political fronts.

“In my opinion, we are in a full-fledged war with America, Israel and Europe. They do not want our country to stand on its feet,” he said.

The remarks come six months after Israel and the US carried out strikes on Iran, and after France, Germany and the United Kingdom reimposed United Nations sanctions in September over Tehran’s nuclear programme. They also land just days before Netanyahu is due to meet Trump, where further action against Iran is expected to be on the agenda.

Pezeshkian insisted Iran’s military is stronger than before, despite sanctions and pressure.

“Our dear military forces are doing their jobs with strength, and now, in terms of equipment and manpower, despite all the problems we have, they are stronger than when they [Israel and the US] attacked,” he said.

“So, if they want to attack, they will naturally face a more decisive response.”

He argued that the current confrontation is more complex than past conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq war.

“This war is worse than Iraq’s war against us. If one understands it well, this war is far more complex and difficult than that war,” Pezeshkian said, referring to the 1980-1988 conflict that killed hundreds of thousands.

Israel and the US accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies. Tensions exploded into open conflict in June, when Israel launched an unprecedented assault on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, as well as civilian areas, triggering a 12-day war between the two regional rivals. Iranian authorities say more than 1,000 people were killed.

The US later joined the campaign, bombing three Iranian nuclear sites, a move that effectively froze negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme, which had restarted in April.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran, piling on new sanctions aimed at choking off oil revenues and deepening economic strain.

According to recent reports, Netanyahu is expected to press Trump for further military action when they meet, with Iran’s missile programme now a central focus.