Iranian President Describes Situation as Total War with US, Israel, and Europe Amid Assessments of IRGC Capabilities
Pezeshkian said, "Here, they are besieging us from every aspect, they are putting us in difficulty and constraint, creating problems".
MIDDLE EAST — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described Iran’s situation as a total war with the United States, Israel, and Europe, stating that these entities seek to undermine the country’s stability through various means.
This characterization appeared in an interview published on December 27 on the official website of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Pezeshkian compared the current pressures to the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, noting economic sanctions, reduced oil revenues, and heightened societal expectations as components of this conflict. He called for national unity to counter potential exploitation of internal divisions.
Pezeshkian said, “In my opinion, we are in a full-fledged war with America, Israel, and Europe; they do not want our country to stand on its feet. This war is worse than Iraq’s war against us; if one understands it well, this war is far more complex and difficult than that war. In the war with Iraq, the situation was clear: they fired missiles, and I also knew where to hit.”
“Here, they are besieging us from every aspect, they are putting us in difficulty and constraint, creating problems – in terms of livelihood, culturally, politically, and security-wise – while raising society’s expectations. On one side, they block our sales, our exchanges, our trade, and on the other side, expectations in society have risen! Consequently, we must all help with all our might to fix the country.”
Separately, historical assessments indicate Iran’s past involvement in chemical and biological programs, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps playing a role in defense strategies.
These activities follow the June conflict involving strikes on Iranian sites by Israel and the United States, which caused at least 610 deaths and 4,746 injuries according to Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education as of June 24, per an OHCHR press release dated June 23, 2025.
Human rights organizations provided varying estimates:
Human Rights Activists in Iran documented 1,190 killed and 4,475 injured total, including 436 civilian deaths with 65 children and 49 women, per HRANA report dated June 28, 2025.
Amnesty International noted at least 224 killed from Israeli attacks, including 74 women and children, and over 1,800 injured, per Amnesty International statement dated June 18, 2025.
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights cited Iran’s Ministry figures of at least 400 killed and over 3,056 injured as of June 21, while human rights groups reported at least 865 killed and 3,396 injured, per OHCHR press release dated June 23, 2025.
Iran’s President Frames External Actions As Multifaceted Assault On Iran’s Political, Economic, Security Spheres
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