Iranian President Pezeshkian says Iran faces 'total war,' acknowledges economic difficulties

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the nation is confronting a "total war," warning that the pressures from this conflict are intensifying the country's economic woes. He urged national unity to address the mounting challenges.

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The process we are facing is a total war. Therefore, everyone must help and we must unite to solve the problems.

"The process we are facing is a total war. Therefore, everyone must help and we must unite to solve the problems," Pezeshkian stated during a press conference. He identified the population's living conditions and economic situation as his foremost concerns, particularly amidst the current state of "neither war nor peace." The president acknowledged that the government finds the current level of price increases "absolutely unacceptable," but noted that since assuming office on July 30, 2024, he has encountered new problems daily.

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My main concern is the economic situation and the living conditions of the population. We have made every effort, both before and after the war, to solve the economic and subsistence problems of the population.

Pezeshkian explained that the situation is complicated by the war's effects and pre-existing structural issues within Iran's economy. He pointed to imbalances in critical sectors such as water, electricity, gas, oil, the environment, administration, and the banking system. He suggested that adversaries, specifically the United States and Israel, might be exploiting these internal weaknesses to attempt to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

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You all know the imbalances that exist in the country.

The president also stressed the importance of maintaining internal cohesion, particularly in light of ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel. He asserted that both nations understand conventional warfare is insufficient to force surrender and that internal divisions and conflicts are more effective tools for achieving their objectives. Pezeshkian appealed to the media to help prevent further social and political divisions, referencing the aftermath of anti-government protests earlier in the year.

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You can no longer subjugate a country and force it to accept certain demands through war and missiles, but you can achieve it through differences, division, and internal conflicts.