The blockade is choking Iran: 'It is better to end the war' — The President's announcement and the oil crisis

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called today, Friday, to end the war with the US, as economic pressure on Tehran mounts against the backdrop of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" policy.

"It is better that we end the war today, when we are in a position of strength and dignity and the whole world recognizes our victory," he said in a speech in Tehran. Pezeshkian, who spoke before a conference of the medical community, added that the whole world "emphasizes that America, contrary to all rules, attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and that it is hated in the world." Alongside this, he said: "Today we believe that all our commanders and armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country, with all their might and soul, and they believe that the government is doing its utmost to serve the people."

Pezeshkian's words come after his government faced harsh criticism from hawkish elements in Iran throughout the negotiations. At the same time, reports indicate an attempt by the Revolutionary Guards to impose their position on the political echelon, a consequence of their strengthening since the elimination of Khamenei. Pezeshkian defended the recent agreement with the US and described it as "respectable and valuable."

"They will not find even one clause in this agreement that indicates surrender; all obligations are placed on the other side," he said. The Iranian president also admitted the price that economic strangulation is exacting, referring to "the financial restrictions and the enemy's naval blockade, which made our exports and imports difficult." He complained about the difficulty of financing "food stamps," and lashed out at his critics at home: "There are those who sit outside the field, and because they do not know what situation the government is in, what situation the parliament is in, and what situation the commanders are in, they express an opinion and analyze without fear. No suffering or difficulty has reached them, and then they talk about the cost of living."

The remarks were made a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed President Donald Trump's announcement that Washington would impose the heaviest sanctions in history on Iran. "We are going to collapse this regime," Bessent told CNBC. "It is time for our allies and the rest of the world to make a decision." According to him, the naval blockade reimposed on Iran in July and the new sanctions are two blows that will be dealt to Tehran one after another. Bessent also addressed the surge in oil prices, stating: "I am not sure why oil jumped because of this. If we are applying maximum economic pressure, it means that there will most likely not be a large-scale return to fighting."

Earlier, President Donald Trump threatened economic measures against any country that would extend a "lifeline of any kind" to Iran. Meanwhile, the American blockade is beginning to choke Iran's oil artery to China. According to Reuters, the supply of Iranian oil cargoes to Chinese buyers for September and October shipments has decreased, and prices surged this week. The shortage is so acute that Iranian oil, which is usually sold to the Chinese at a discount, is now offered at a premium of $2 per barrel above the market price.

Pezeshkian's admission joins an even sharper admission by the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Abdolnaser Hemmati, who admitted on Wednesday evening in an interview with state television that Iran's oil exports have stopped. "It is a fact that we are not exporting oil," Hemmati said, adding that "the difference between us and Iraq and Qatar is that they have access to their central bank reserves, but the Americans have blocked our reserves." Also, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who finished a visit to Iraq, admitted the economic distress: "No matter how much military power we have, if the people are hungry and we do not have monetary circulation and economic growth, we will not survive."