Iran Says They’re in ‘Full-Fledged War’ With US, Israel & EU

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran is in a “full-fledged war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe, framing what he describes as sustained external pressure — including sanctions, military strikes, and diplomatic isolation — as a comprehensive assault on his country.

The remarks were made in an interview published on the official website of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on December 27, 2025.

Tehran’s Stark Declaration

Pezeshkian’s comments represent some of the strongest language yet from Tehran amid escalating tensions with Western powers and Israel. He asserted that rivals do not want Iran to “stand on its feet” and pledged that if the United States or Israel attacks again, Tehran will respond with increased force, describing the current confrontation as more intense and complex than Iran’s 1980s war with Iraq.

Context: Sanctions, Strikes, and Nuclear Dispute

Pezeshkian’s statement comes in the wake of several key developments over the past year:

• In June 2025, Israel and the U.S. launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, triggering what Tehran refers to as direct aggression. Iran responded with missile attacks, leading to civilian and military casualties.
• In September 2025, France, Britain, and Germany backed renewed U.N. sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme, further straining relations.
• Diplomatic negotiations on Iran’s nuclear activities have remained stalled, with Tehran rejecting Western demands to cease uranium enrichment entirely.

Pezeshkian characterised these combined pressures — economic, diplomatic, and military — as a broad and deep effort by Western powers and Israel to weaken Iran. He framed sanctions, strikes, and global isolation not as isolated actions but as parts of a coordinated campaign.

Iran’s Position and Warnings

In his interview, Pezeshkian warned that Iran’s military and defence forces have become stronger in capability and manpower than at earlier points in the conflict, and that any fresh attack by the U.S. or Israel would prompt an even more “decisive response.” He stressed that external pressure aims to spark domestic unrest, but he called for unity to counter what he portrayed as foreign efforts to destabilise the regime.

Pezeshkian’s rhetoric is aimed at both domestic and international audiences: reinforcing resistance at home while signalling deterrence to external adversaries. His description of the situation as a full-scale war reflects Iran’s assessment that ongoing tensions — from sanctions to strikes — amount to a strategic confrontation rather than isolated disputes.

Geopolitical Significance

The timing of Pezeshkian’s declaration is notable. On the same weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss regional security issues, including concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme and military posture. Such high-level discussions underscore how Tehran’s declaration resonates beyond Tehran, reaching capitals in Washington, Jerusalem, and European capitals.

Western officials have often accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons — a charge Tehran denies — and Western powers maintain that sanctions and pressure are aimed at curbing proliferation risks and regional aggression. Iran’s leadership, for its part, frames such measures as unjust and harmful to its sovereignty and economic well-being.

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