Iran’s president declared they were in a “total war” with the US, Israel and Europe, just as Tehran looks to rebuild its nuclear capabilities and strengthen ties with Hamas.
Masoud Pezeshkian made the bold statement in an interview published in state media Saturday, Barron’s reported.
“In my opinion, we are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe. They want to bring our country to its knees,” Pezeshkian said.
“This war is worse than the one launched against us by Iraq. On closer inspection, it is far more complex and difficult,” he said, in reference to the 1980-88 war with Iran’s western neighbor.
The claims come amid UN sanctions on Iran — orchestrated by France, Britain and Germany — due to the regime’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons.
It also follows the12-Day War with Israel in June, when the Jewish state obliterated much of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear capabilities — with the assistance of devastating US airstrikes.
As tensions between the Middle Eastern rivals ramps up, a Tehran-backed candidate is also likely to win a major election to a leading role with Hamas.
Khalil al-Hayya, a Palestinian politician, is expected to beat out Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal in an election for head of the groups political bureau, which could be decided in the coming days, sources told Saudi Arabian outlet Asharq reported.
al-Hayya is considered to be close to Iran, according to those same sources who told the outlet he would have a clearly adversarial stance toward Israel — as a tenuous Gaza peace deal hangs in the balance.
The election is held among Hamas’ general Shura council, composed of 50 members. It was originally scheduled for earlier this year, but the terror group “ruled out” holding the vote until the war completely ends, sources told Asharq.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to travel to Mar-a-Lago Monday where he is expected to pitch President Trump on a plan to launch new strikes against Tehran.
Israeli sources claim that the Islamic Republic is repairing its air defense systems and rebuilding its ballistic missile program, both of which were destroyed by airstrikes during the war, according to an NBC report.
The Florida powwow also is believed to be crucial to the Gaza deal, with top White House aides believing Netanyahu is sabotaging the peace framework, Axios reported.
“It’s felt for some time like the Israelis have buyer’s remorse,” an anonymous White House official told the outlet. “Implementing the Gaza deal is hard enough, but the Israelis sometimes do things that make it even harder.”
Netanyahu remains skeptical of the plan to demilitarize Gaza, anonymous Israeli officials told Axios.
The meeting with Netanyahu will be the fifth since the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
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