Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian, who is closely aligned with the “Supreme Leader” and has remained quiet throughout the ongoing conflict with the U.S., stated on Thursday that Iran would consider ending the war if the U.S. and Israel pay “reparations” along with other conditions.
Pezeshkian reportedly shared his thoughts on Twitter, as noted by Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency.
“The only way to conclude this war instigated by the Zionist regime and the United States is to acknowledge Iran’s legitimate rights, pay reparations, and provide solid international guarantees against future attacks,” Pezeshkian mentioned.
He also indicated that he had discussions with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who are seen as Iran’s key allies. While Russia has consistently expressed verbal support for Iran during the conflict and has called for an end to attacks on Iranian military sites, they haven’t taken significant action to bolster their ally.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is facing its own turmoil, described by officials as an “open war” against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Pezeshkian’s remarks seem to aim at introducing the prospect of concluding the war into broader discussions— a change from the more aggressive rhetoric of other influential members of the Iranian regime. For instance, Ali Larijani, the National Security Council’s top secretary, recently appeared to issue threats toward President Trump, stating on Twitter, “Even those greater than you have failed to eliminate the Iranian state. Be careful not to fall too!”
On Thursday, Larijani again issued threats, alluding ominously to American soldiers. “President Trump said, ‘We can dismantle Iran’s power in an hour,’ and yet we haven’t done that,” he remarked. “In under 30 minutes, darkness would envelop the area, offering a chance to trap American service members scrambling for safety.”
Trump has shown no openness to negotiations that would allow Iran to maintain its current status. He previously communicated through Truth Social that only “unconditional surrender” would suffice.
“Then, after we elect a significant and suitable leader, we, along with our many brave allies, will put in relentless effort to restore Iran and fortify it economically,” he commented. “Iran has a bright future. ‘Make Iran great again (miga!)'”
Iran has repeatedly made threats against Trump, starting after he ordered the airstrike that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, who was a crucial military figure in Iran’s foreign interventions. During Soleimani’s funeral, speakers openly called for Trump’s assassination. Recently, U.S. Army officials disclosed that Iran orchestrated a plot to kill Trump in 2024, resulting in the U.S. military targeting an unspecified Iranian military official involved.
Designated as the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been linked to violence across several Middle Eastern countries for years. According to the State Department, Iran provides substantial funding to organizations such as Hezbollah and contributes around $100 million annually to groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
On February 28, Trump announced Operation Epic Fury, aimed at diminishing Iran’s capacity for international terrorism. This operation, in cooperation with Israeli forces, significantly impacted Iranian leadership, notably removing “supreme leader” Ali Khamenei. Following that, Iranian authorities indicated that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, was chosen as the successor, although he hasn’t made a public appearance, prompting questions about his legitimacy.
After Operation Epic Fury, the Revolutionary Guards retaliated with missile and drone strikes on neighboring nations, targeting countries housing U.S. military installations. Iran’s aggressive actions have spanned various nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey, among others.
The current conflict arises after failed negotiations between U.S. and Iranian diplomats, facilitated by Oman, aimed at addressing concerns over Iran’s advancing uranium enrichment and missile capabilities, which could lead to a reduction of onerous sanctions imposed by the U.S. However, these discussions fell apart as Iran refused to make concessions or address U.S. security concerns.
