Irans president says immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression needed to end war
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for an 'immediate cessation' of what he describes as US-Israeli aggression to bring an end to the ongoing war and wider regional conflict. This statement, made on Saturday, underscores Iran's stance on the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has made statements regarding the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, though the specific call for 'immediate cessation' of US-Israeli aggression mentioned in the initial summary appears to be contradicted by recent reports. According to statements from March 16-17, 2026, Pezeshkian actually described calls for ending the war as 'meaningless, until we ensure there will be no more attacks in our land in the future.' He emphasized that Iran did not initiate the current war and defended Tehran's right to respond to US-Israeli attacks, stating that 'defending against invasion is a natural right.'
Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of starting the conflict through a joint offensive launched on February 28, 2026. He urged the global community to condemn what he called the 'invaders' and respect international law. The Iranian president asserted that regional peace is impossible while ignoring US-Israeli aggression, declaring, 'The Islamic Republic of Iran will not surrender to bullies.'
In a separate statement on March 21, 2026, Pezeshkian stated that Iran does not seek conflict with neighboring and Muslim countries. This came amid escalating tensions following a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran that targeted the South Pars natural gas field and reportedly eliminated 40 Iranian commanders. In response to these attacks, Pezeshkian resurfaced in a taped video message stating that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic are 'powerfully crushing the enemy's bases.'
The conflict has led to significant regional instability, with Pezeshkian announcing the formation of an interim leadership council following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This council includes himself as president, the head of the judiciary, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi representing the Guardian Council. No Philippine news sources were found covering these specific statements by President Pezeshkian, with available information coming primarily from international outlets like Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor.
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