TEHRAN — In a move that has sent shockwaves through global diplomatic circles, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Saturday that the Islamic Republic is currently engaged in a “full-fledged war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe.

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Speaking in a high-stakes interview published on the official website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian described a nation under “besiegement,” facing a multifaceted campaign of economic, political, and cultural pressure designed to prevent Iran from “standing on its feet.”

Beyond Conventional Conflict

Pezeshkian’s rhetoric marks a significant escalation in tone, drawing direct comparisons to the devastating eight-year Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. However, he cautioned that the current situation is far more perilous.

“In my opinion, we are in a full-scale war… This war is worse than the war in Iraq; it is much more complicated and difficult,” Pezeshkian stated.

The President argued that while the 1980s conflict had clear frontlines, the “new war” is being fought through crippling sanctions, cyber warfare, and what he termed “security pressure” aimed at destabilizing Iran’s domestic front.

Echoes of the “Twelve-Day War”

The declaration comes just six months after the “Twelve-Day War” in June 2025—a brief but violent military confrontation where the U.S. joined Israel in launching widespread airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and IRGC command centers.

That conflict, which killed approximately 1,100 Iranians, including top nuclear scientists and military commanders, fundamentally altered the regional landscape. Despite the losses, Pezeshkian claimed on Saturday that Iran’s military is now “stronger and better equipped” than it was before the June strikes, warning that any further aggression would be met with a “more decisive response.”

Tensions Peak Ahead of Mar-a-Lago Summit

The timing of Tehran’s statement is seen as a direct signal to Washington and Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Monday.

Key items on the Trump-Netanyahu agenda include:

• The Nuclear File: Addressing the failure of diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s enrichment post-June conflict.

• Maximum Pressure 2.0: Expanding the “maximum pressure” policy reinstated by Trump earlier this year.

• Regime Change: Discussing Netanyahu’s recent hints at a regime-change strategy in Tehran.

Economic Desperation at Home

Domestically, the Iranian regime is facing its own crisis. The Iranian rial has plummeted to historic lows, and public dissatisfaction has led to sporadic protests across the country.

In a surprising moment of candor during recent university visits, Pezeshkian reportedly told students, “I can’t do anything; don’t curse me,” regarding the economy. In Saturday’s interview, he attempted to pivot, unveiling a 20-point economic plan focused on austerity, reducing waste in utility consumption, and prioritizing regional trade corridors with China and Russia to bypass Western sanctions.

As the U.S. and Israel prepare to coordinate their next moves in Florida, the world watches to see if Pezeshkian’s “full-fledged war” remains a war of words or shifts back into the kinetic conflict that defined the summer of 2025.