Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Tehran is still working toward an agreement to end the war, saying continued fighting is not in Iran’s interests or those of the wider region.

“We are still working to reach an agreement and believe that continuing the war does not serve our interests or the interests of the region,” Pezeshkian said, arguing that dialogue and cooperation remain the path toward resolving the conflict.

Pezeshkian accused the United States of failing to honor previous understandings, saying Iran remains prepared to pursue diplomacy if Washington fulfills its commitments and takes steps to restore trust.

Before departing for a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Pezeshkian also warned that Iran would respond forcefully to further attacks. “We are not seeking war,” he said, “however, we will not sit idly by in the face of any aggression.”

His comments came following the most significant U.S.-Iran escalation in roughly a month. U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces struck two IRGC rocket launchers on Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces were observed preparing rockets carrying sea mines for deployment into international shipping lanes.

Iran reported casualties among IRGC personnel and civilians but did not release an official toll. An IRGC spokesman called the American strike a “strategic and deadly mistake” and warned that Washington would pay economically and militarily.

Iran subsequently launched ballistic missiles toward King Hussein Air Base and Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, where American forces are stationed. Most of the missiles were intercepted, with no casualties or significant damage reported.

The escalation also spread to the United Arab Emirates, where the Defense Ministry said its air force intercepted an Iranian drone over UAE territorial waters. Iran claimed it targeted Al Minhad Air Base, which hosts American forces and helicopters, though the UAE denied that the base was hit.

Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed that an oil tanker attempting to travel through the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz was struck by two sea mines and caught fire after allegedly violating Iranian instructions.

President Trump responded with a blistering attack on Tehran, declaring Iran “officially a failed nation” and saying the country is “dead,” pointing to what he described as the destruction of its military capabilities, collapse of its currency, soaring inflation and chaos within the regime.

Washington is also preparing to intensify its economic pressure campaign. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration plans to impose new secondary sanctions every week against institutions and entities doing business with Iran, beginning with banks helping Tehran circumvent financial restrictions.

The renewed military escalation and concerns over additional mining in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed oil prices higher and weighed on markets across the Gulf.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)