Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Islamic Republic, referred to what he called the “Third Imposed War,” saying Iran is currently in a state of war and must operate under a “wartime footing.”
Speaking on Monday, May 18, during a gathering of public relations directors from executive branch agencies, Pezeshkian claimed that the United States and Israel had targeted Iran’s “leader, commanders, ministers, students, and citizens.” He also said facilities including power plants, petrochemical complexes, and Mobarakeh Steel had come under attack.
At the same time, he stressed that officials should not present a “false image” of the country’s situation, stating: “We should not falsely claim that we have no problems and that the enemy is on the brink of destruction. We, too, are facing serious challenges.”
The Iranian president also urged the public to accept economic pressure and inflation as part of wartime conditions, saying: “We are fighting, and we must accept the hardships that come with it.”
In another part of his speech, Pezeshkian called for avoiding “any voice that breeds division,” adding that the Islamic Republic needs internal unity to deal with the current situation.
