Pezeshkian Accuses Washington of Killing Peace Deal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian placed the blame squarely on Washington for the sudden collapse of the interim agreement designed to end the conflict with the United States and Israel. Speaking in remarks broadcast by Iranian Press TV on Saturday, the president argued that both nations must now return to the negotiating table to finalize the accord. His comments arrived at a tense moment, with fears mounting that military operations could reignite as early as this weekend. This anxiety followed US President Donald Trump's statement on Friday, in which he suggested he might launch another "little Epic Fury." That phrase references the codename for the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which commenced on February 28.

The Iranian military has signaled a readiness for intense retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that even limited strikes would provoke a response several times greater in scale, according to reports from the semi-official Fars News Agency. Ali Abdollahi, the chief of staff for the Iranian armed forces, issued a stark warning on Saturday. He stated that the US military would not be permitted into the Gulf under any circumstances. Abdollahi added that Trump could only dream of seeing American forces in the region and would take that dream to the grave.

Political pressures are mounting for both leaders. While Trump hints at further military action, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained his commitment to overthrowing the Iranian government. Both politicians face significant electoral challenges. Israeli voters will select their next government on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Trump’s Republican party faces crucial midterm elections on November 3. Democrats stand to gain control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, an outcome that would deal a major blow to the president, who has more than two years remaining in his final term.

Tehran is signaling a dual approach of diplomatic openness and military preparedness. Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Iranian government spokesperson, stated on Saturday that the country would not wait for permission to defend itself. She wrote in a memo that Iran seeks peace but will respond to aggression with severe consequences. Mohajerani emphasized that Iran does not flee from dialogue but also does not hesitate in national defense. She challenged those who believe they can destroy the nation to correct their calculations.

High-level meetings in Tehran continue to shape the domestic response. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the chief of the judiciary, met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday. The two discussed strategies to tackle corruption and pursue compensation for citizens affected by the war. Khamenei assumed the supreme leadership role after his father was assassinated during the opening strikes on February 28. He has not appeared in public since taking office in early March. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliament speaker and chief negotiator, was reported to have met with Khamenei earlier this week to coordinate the government's position.