Once again the old question of whether a war can be paused without being ended hangs over Iran and its adversaries. Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, lays the collapse of an interim arrangement at Washington's door, yet in the same breath he urges both sides to return to the table and finish what was started. Behind the words stand the memories of a conflict that began on February 28 and took Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in its opening strikes, and the fear that a single new strike could reopen it. Whether the coming days bring patience or force will depend on elections in Israel and the United S
Iran Blames Washington for Interim Deal's Collapse, Urges Return to Talks Amid Fears of Renewed Strikes
The US-Israeli war against Iran, which began February 28, killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's successor's predecessor, Ayatollah Khamenei, in opening strikes and left Iranians affected, for whom compensation is being discussed.
We do not flee from dialogue for peace, and we do not hesitate in defending the country
Mark
Pezeshkian blames the US but also says go back to the deal. Why say both?
Mimi
Because the message is aimed at two audiences. He assigns fault, then leaves the door open to finishing the agreement.
Mark
Meanwhile the military language is much harder.
Mimi
Yes. The IRGC promises a response several times greater, and Abdollahi says US forces will never enter the Gulf. Mohajerani says Iran seeks peace but won't wait for permission to defend itself.
Luke
Worth noting those are statements of intent, not confirmed capabilities or actions. Nothing here shows a strike has happened.
Mark
And Trump's "little Epic Fury" remark?
Mimi
It was said Friday and is what set off the fears of renewed fighting this weekend.
Luke
But it's a loose remark, not an announced plan. The report doesn't say any operation is scheduled.
Mark
What about the elections?
Mimi
Israel votes Tuesday and the US midterms are November 3. Both leaders face voters.
Luke
The report lays out that timing, but it doesn't say the elections are driving anyone's decisions. That link is not established.
Mark
And Mojtaba Khamenei?
Mimi
He's met officials, but hasn't been seen in public since early March.
Der Puls
- Tehran's president blames Washington for the interim deal's unravelling while still calling for both sides to return to it.
- Trump has floated another strike, and fears grow that fighting could resume as soon as this weekend.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard warns any limited attack would draw a response several times greater, and the military says US forces will never be allowed into the Gulf.
- Israel votes on Tuesday and US midterms follow on November 3, and both could decide whether military action returns.
- Inside Iran, the leadership is meeting on corruption and compensation for war-affected citizens, while the new Supreme Leader has not appeared in public since March.
Once again the old question of whether a war can be paused without being ended hangs over Iran and its adversaries. Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, lays the collapse of an interim arrangement at Washington's door, yet in the same breath he urges both sides to return to the table and finish what was started. Behind the words stand the memories of a conflict that began on February 28 and took Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in its opening strikes, and the fear that a single new strike could reopen it. Whether the coming days bring patience or force will depend on elections in Israel and the United States, where domestic calculations weigh as heavily as the battlefield.
On Saturday, Iranian state-linked media broadcast remarks from President Masoud Pezeshkian that pulled in two directions. He blamed the United States for the collapse of an interim deal meant to end the war, but he also urged both sides to go back to the agreement and conclude it.
The words came as fears mounted that fighting could resume within days. US President Donald Trump had said on Friday that he "may do another little Epic Fury," the codename for the war that began on February 28. Tehran's military answered sharply: the Revolutionary Guard warned that even limited strikes would bring a response "several times greater," and the armed forces chief said American forces would never be allowed into the Gulf.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Iran seeks peace but will not wait for permission to defend itself. Pressure is also building in Washington and Jerusalem. Israelis vote on Tuesday, and Trump's party faces midterms on November 3, where Democrats could take both chambers of Congress.
Inside Iran, leaders are meeting over corruption and compensation for Iranians hurt by the war. The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who took over after his father was killed in the opening strikes, has not been seen in public since early March. The coming days will show whether the weekend passes quietly and whether the interim deal can be revived.
On Saturday, Iranian state-linked Press TV broadcast remarks from President Masoud Pezeshkian that pointed in two directions at once. He placed the blame for the unravelling of an interim deal, meant to end the war with the United States and Israel, on Washington. He also said both sides should go back to the agreement and conclude it.
The remarks came as fears grew that fighting could resume as soon as this weekend. On Friday, US President Donald Trump said he "may do another little Epic Fury", using the codename for the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began on February 28.
Tehran's military answered quickly. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that even limited strikes would draw a response "several times greater", according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi said US forces would not be allowed into the Gulf "under any circumstances and at any time". He said Trump could only "dream" of it, and that he would take that dream to the grave.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani struck a similar note in a memo. She said Iran would not "wait for permission to defend itself" and that it seeks peace but will answer any aggression with severe consequences. "Our position is clear: we do not flee from dialogue for peace, and we do not hesitate in defending the country," she wrote. "Those who harbour the illusion of destroying Iran must correct their calculations."
The threat of new strikes comes alongside political pressure on both Washington and Jerusalem. Trump has suggested he could take further military action, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he remains committed to overthrowing Iran's government. Israelis choose their next government on Tuesday. Trump's Republican Party faces midterm elections on November 3, and Democrats could win both the House and the Senate. That would be a major blow to a president who still has more than two years left in his final term.
Inside Iran, the leadership has been meeting. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday. They discussed tackling corruption and pursuing compensation for Iranians affected by the war, among other issues. Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was reported to have met Khamenei earlier in the week.
Mojtaba Khamenei took over from his father, who was assassinated in the opening strikes of the war on February 28. He has not been seen in public since taking the post in early March.
What to watch now is whether the weekend passes without strikes, and how Tuesday's Israeli vote and the November 3 US midterms shape the choice between returning to the interim deal and resuming the war.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Tehran would not wait for permission to defend itself, and seeks peace but will respond to any aggression with severe consequences.— Fatemeh Mohajerani, Iranian government spokesperson
Trump said he may do another little Epic Fury.— US President Donald Trump, on Friday
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