Pezeshkian: The $0 Interim Deal Collapses as US Blamed for Failure

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has officially assigned blame to Washington for the collapse of the interim agreement designed to halt hostilities with the United States and Israel. Speaking on Saturday, Pezeshkian asserted that the deal unraveled due to American actions, yet he urged both parties to return to the table to finalize the terms. His comments signal a strategic pivot in Tehran’s diplomatic posture, aiming to maintain leverage while the threat of renewed combat looms large over regional energy markets and geopolitical stability.

The timing of these remarks is critical for investors and policymakers watching the Middle East. Fears are mounting that military operations could restart as early as this weekend. This anxiety was fueled by US President Donald Trump’s statement on Friday, in which he suggested he might launch another "little Epic Fury." This codename references the joint US-Israeli campaign that commenced on February 28, a conflict that has already disrupted trade routes and heightened defense spending across the region.

Military readiness on the Iranian side suggests a prepared response to any further incursions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that even limited strikes would provoke a reaction several times greater in scale. Ali Abdollahi, the Chief of Staff for the Iranian Armed Forces, declared on Saturday that US military forces would be barred from the Gulf under any circumstances. He characterized the idea of US entry into the Gulf as a dream Trump could only take to the grave, indicating a firm stance on regional access control.

Political timelines in both Washington and Jerusalem add another layer of complexity to the situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to overthrowing the Iranian government. Israelis are scheduled to vote for their next government on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Trump faces a pivotal midterm election on November 3, where his Republican Party could lose control of both the House and Senate to the Democrats. Such a shift would significantly impact policy continuity and market confidence in US foreign engagements.

Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Iranian government spokesperson, clarified Tehran’s defensive strategy in a memo on Saturday. She stated that Iran does not seek permission to defend itself and seeks peace, but will respond to aggression with severe consequences. Mohajerani emphasized that those hoping to destroy Iran must correct their calculations, a message likely intended to reassure domestic stakeholders and signal resolve to international observers.

Behind the scenes, high-level coordination continues within the Iranian leadership. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to discuss tackling corruption and securing compensation for those affected by the war. Khamenei, who replaced his assassinated father in early March, has remained out of the public eye since taking office. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the chief negotiator, was also reported to have met with Khamenei earlier this week, underscoring the centralization of decision-making during this volatile period.