Ex-Iran president Rouhani angers hardliners; says war should end if people demand it

Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has urged Iran’s leadership to consult the public on whether to continue the ongoing conflict with the United States, arguing that the war should end “with honor” if that reflects the will of the majority.

Speaking over the weekend to a gathering of former provincial governors, deputies, and district officials from his own administrations, Rouhani stressed that national goals must first be clarified and then presented to the people.

“It is very important that the framework of our national goals is clear to ourselves first, and then we present it to the people,” Rouhani said, according to footage shared by his official office.

“We say to the people: our plan is to fight the world’s big powers for another 20 years. If the people say they accept it, very good, let’s continue. But if the people do not accept it and show us another way, do we not want to accept that?”

Rouhani framed an end to the fighting as essential for national recovery.

“We must, in accordance with the overwhelming majority of the people, end the war with honor so that we can rebuild the country, so that we can compensate for the damage done,” he stated.

He dismissed hardline voices opposing concessions as a “small minority who now hold the megaphones and are making noise,” insisting they do not represent broader Iranian society.

The remarks come amid a protracted conflict that escalated sharply in February following US and ‘Israeli’ strikes on Iranian targets.

The fighting has involved disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, mutual military actions, and earlier attempts at de-escalation, including a June memorandum of understanding that has faced implementation challenges.

Rouhani, who served as president from 2013 to 2021 and helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear deal, has long advocated pragmatic diplomacy alongside military strength.

In related comments from the same meetings, Rouhani rejected artificial dichotomies between force and negotiation.

He argued that support for the armed forces does not conflict with diplomacy, noting that “both missiles and drones, and negotiations, defend the country.”

He also insisted the Strait of Hormuz should remain a prosperous security asset rather than a permanent war zone.

Some hardline critics quickly condemned the statements.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the Kayhan newspaper, accused Rouhani of effectively calling for surrender to the United States and ‘Israel’ and urged judicial investigation.

IRGC-linked outlets described the comments as assisting Iran’s enemies and undermining national unity.

Rouhani’s intervention highlights ongoing internal debates in Iran over the costs of prolonged confrontation versus negotiated off-ramps.