Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran should bring the ongoing conflict with the United States to a close while maintaining a position of strength and dignity. According to Al Jazeera, Pezeshkian made the remarks on Friday, August 22, 2026, during a meeting with doctors, noting that the international community acknowledges Iran’s victory despite months of military hostilities.
Iranian Leadership Assesses the War and Domestic Pressure
Pezeshkian defended a memorandum of understanding struck with Washington in June against hardline domestic critics in Iran’s parliament who accused his administration of making unnecessary concessions, emphasizing that the commitments solely concerned the other side. His authority as president remains subordinate to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Meanwhile, Major-General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, warned that the country’s military remains fully prepared across land, sea, air, air defense, and cyberspace to deliver a crushing response to new threats, as reported by Iranian media.
Strait of Hormuz Disruptions and Diplomatic Channels
According to Oman’s state news agency, Omani and Iranian foreign ministers held a phone call on Friday to discuss ways to create suitable conditions for resuming negotiations and addressing navigation developments in the waterway. Concurrently, US naval forces have organized secret tanker convoys through the southern sector of the strait, facilitating the export of between five and ten million barrels of oil a day.
Washington Prepares Major Economic Sanctions
In Washington, US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism regarding Tehran’s willingness to reach an agreement, telling reporters that the United States maintains total control of the region and its land areas. The Trump administration is shifting its primary focus toward economic pressure as the conflict approaches its six-month mark. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans for a news conference at the Department of the Treasury on Monday to outline a severe sanctions campaign aimed at collapsing the Iranian government. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the upcoming measures as economic terrorism.
International Reactions to US Economic Threats
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian criticized the measures, stating that sanctions and pressure will not resolve the underlying issues and urging all involved parties to pursue political and diplomatic solutions. Additionally, President Trump warned that any nation providing a lifeline to Iran would face severe economic consequences.
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