Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Tehran must end the war against the United States and Israel “as swiftly as possible” so the country can turn its attention to reconstruction — his most explicit public acknowledgement that the conflict is damaging Iran’s capacity to rebuild.
Speaking in a series of meetings with public-sector workers in Tehran, Pezeshkian struck a more moderate tone than senior figures elsewhere in the leadership. “While Iran must resist excessive demands, we must recognize that continuing the conflict benefits no one — not us, not the other side, and not the future of the region or coming generations,” he said, according to Iranian media. “Every rational and diplomatic path must be used to reduce tensions.”
Addressing firefighters in the capital, Pezeshkian said the post-war period would bring its own set of problems. “After the end of hostilities, the country will face challenges in reconstruction, securing financial resources, and controlling the market,” he told them. He also called on the country’s leadership to remain honest with the public to preserve trust.
The framing is a notable shift from Pezeshkian’s April 15 remarks, when he insisted the country “will never surrender” and warned Iran would deliver a “heavier blow” if attacked again. He is widely regarded as the most moderate voice in the leadership but plays no direct role in negotiations with Washington and does not have the final word on defence policy, which rests with the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Pezeshkian’s remarks came the same day Iran formally rejected a second round of talks in Islamabad and Brent crude held above $96 after the US boarding and seizure of the Iran-linked tanker Touska. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Pezeshkian by phone for 45 minutes on the same day, urging continued mediation, according to earlier Newswire reporting.
Source: Ada Derana.
