Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that his country is facing what he described as a “total war” with the United States, Israel and Europe, calling the current confrontation more complex and dangerous than the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. His remarks come at a sensitive moment, just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump, with Iran’s nuclear programme and regional tensions expected to dominate the agenda.
Speaking in remarks published on the website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian said Iran was under coordinated pressure aimed at weakening and destabilising the country. He argued that the conflict went beyond conventional warfare and involved economic, political and security dimensions designed to cripple Iran from within. Comparing the situation to the eight-year war with Iraq, he said the current phase was even more complex and harder to confront.
The comments follow sharp exchanges between Iran and the United States at the United Nations Security Council over reviving stalled nuclear negotiations. Washington has reiterated that it is open to talks but insists Tehran must meet strict conditions, while Iran has rejected US demands as unjust and politically motivated. Tensions have further intensified after European powers supported the reimposition of UN sanctions in September, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities.
Pezeshkian’s warning also comes against the backdrop of renewed US pressure since President Trump returned to office and revived his “maximum pressure” campaign. The strategy includes tightening sanctions, restricting Iran’s oil exports and limiting its access to international financial systems. Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that Western powers are using sanctions as a tool of coercion rather than diplomacy.
The situation has been further complicated by recent military escalation. Earlier this year, Iran and Israel were drawn into a direct confrontation following Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Tehran said the attacks caused more than 1,000 casualties, while retaliatory Iranian missile strikes killed 28 people in Israel. The conflict later widened when the United States carried out air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
With Netanyahu set to meet Trump in the coming days, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its regional role and the risk of further military escalation are expected to dominate discussions. Pezeshkian’s remarks signal Tehran’s view that it is facing coordinated pressure on multiple fronts, even as diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider conflict remain fragile.
