Iranian president says ceasefire approved by Supreme Leader

• President Pezeshkian stated the ceasefire was unanimously approved by the Supreme Leader to pursue a "just peace."
• He framed: What happened during the past 40 days necessitated a decisive response to a war that was imposed on us, and for which we were prepared."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the nation regarding the recently implemented ceasefire, stating that the decision was made with the unanimous consensus of the country's leadership and under the direct guidance and approval of the Supreme Leader.

Consensus on ceasefire and 'just peace'

Pezeshkian emphasized that the agreement to halt hostilities was rooted in the fundamental principles of "dignity, wisdom, and expediency." 

He noted that Iran outright rejects the aggressors' logic of "peace through strength," and is instead actively pursuing the "consolidation of national power through a just peace." 

The president reiterated that Tehran has no desire for war with regional nations, maintaining a long-standing commitment to coexistence, mutual respect, and stability.

The target was 'Iran itself'

Addressing the intense 40-day military engagement, Pezeshkian described Iran's actions as a "decisive and powerful response" to aggression imposed by what he termed "warmongering and child-killing regimes." 

He stressed that the recent hostilities went far beyond a limited military conflict. Pointing to the killing of children and the severe damage inflicted upon vital infrastructure—including universities, schools, medical centers, and threats to the nation's historical and cultural heritage—he stated, "It becomes clear that the target of this war is Iran itself."

Rebuking foreign interference

The Iranian president also strongly condemned the spread of lies, deception, and psychological warfare perpetuated by foreign adversaries during the crisis. 

He criticized those who "prescribe destruction for this country from afar" and exploit the nation's youth for their own agendas. 

Pezeshkian firmly declared that Iran will not serve as a battleground for the "rootless dreams and destructive plans of others."

Concluding his remarks, Pezeshkian asserted that because the most powerful and ruthless militaries in the world could not overcome the nation, the future definitively belongs to a "stable, enduring, and proud Iran."