Tehran: In a message to countries attempting to mediate a truce between Iran and United States–Israel, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said their focus should be on the US and Israel, not Iran. He did not specifically name any country.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he said, "Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity & sovereignty. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict."
The statement indicates that Iran is unlikely to respond positively to mediation efforts that ask it to scale back its actions and instead wants international efforts focused on the United States and Israel.
Meanwhile, the United States–Israel military campaign against Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, with continued airstrikes and retaliatory exchanges. The operations, codenamed Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, creating a leadership vacuum and heightening the risk of wider regional escalation.
