Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called Friday for an end to the country’s war with the United States, while taking an unusually pointed swipe at hardliners inside his own regime who continue pushing a tougher line.
Pezeshkian made the remarks during a speech to the General Assembly of the Islamic Association of the Medical Society of Iran, arguing that Tehran should move to end the conflict while he believes the country still holds a strong negotiating position.
“It is better to end the war today, when we are in power and dignity and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and is hated in the world,” Pezeshkian said, according to a translation of a transcript published by Iranian state media.
The comments marked a notable shift in tone from some of the harder-line voices inside Tehran, where powerful factions have continued calling for resistance despite mounting military and economic pressure.
Pezeshkian then appeared to turn his frustration toward critics within Iran who, in his view, are demanding more confrontation without bearing the consequences themselves.
‘It’s better to end the war today, when we are in a position of power and dignity’ — Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian
‘We will under no circumstances bow to bullying’
Pezeshkian adds that Iran is ready to stand against the US ‘until its last breath’ pic.twitter.com/3ffiCxogfe
— RT Intl (@RT_on_X) August 21, 2026
“In the meantime, some people are sitting outside the circle; because they do not know the state of the government, the state of the parliament, and the state of the commanders, they make comments and analysis, even though they have not experienced any suffering or hardship, and then they talk about the cost. They do not find a single clause in this agreement that indicates a commitment; all commitments are related to the other party,” he said.
The remarks exposed an increasingly public divide inside the Iranian government over how long the regime can sustain the current confrontation.
Iran has faced growing pressure from the United States, including military action, sanctions and efforts to squeeze the regime’s access to oil revenue and foreign trade.
The economic damage has become harder for Tehran to ignore.
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Pezeshkian acknowledged that ordinary Iranians are feeling the effects of inflation and the broader cost of war, while warning that aggressive slogans come with real consequences.
“Criticizing the problems of inflation and issues arising from the war is not consistent with the slogans of some. When we chant slogans, we must also accept their severity,” he added.
The Iranian president’s comments were striking because they came from inside a system where the most consequential national security decisions ultimately rest with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Pezeshkian has generally been viewed as more pragmatic than Iran‘s most hard-line political figures, but his ability to dramatically change Tehran’s foreign policy remains limited.
Still, openly calling for an end to the conflict while criticizing hawkish voices inside Iran suggests the pressure campaign is fueling a serious debate at the top of the regime.
The speech also comes as Tehran faces worsening economic strain and growing isolation across the region.
For years, Iran relied on sanctions workarounds, oil exports and relationships with regional allies to soften the impact of U.S. pressure. Recent moves by neighboring countries and Washington have made some of those escape routes increasingly difficult to maintain.
