Iran pledges to weather 'full-scale' war

Iran said on Sunday it is fighting a full-scale economic, military and security war as it warned that countries joining United States sanctions against Tehran would be considered an enemy.

The warning comes as US President Donald Trump said he viewed the Strait of Hormuz as an "American territory". In a social media post on Saturday, he reposted a map marking the critical waterway as a "new US territory".

Speaking at a ceremony on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the government had faced war, sanctions, various pressures and continuous assassinations, alongside serious imbalances in water, electricity, gas, fuel, the environment and banking, but assured the public that his government is doing its best during the hardships.

"The enemies imagined that with their pressure and actions Iran would collapse. Not only did this not happen, but the power and unity of the Iranian nation amazed the world," he was quoted by the Mehr News Agency as saying.

"Of course, we are ashamed before the people that problems exist. But as long as we have breath in our bodies, we will serve our dear people, work to improve their lives and welfare, and pass through these crises with strength," he added.

In a speech published by state-run IRNA early on Sunday, Pezeshkian defended a recent memorandum of understanding as the best way for the country to move beyond what he described as a situation of "neither war nor peace".

Members of Iran's Supreme National Security Council believed the memorandum represented the best possible agreement based on dignity, wisdom and the national interest, he said.

In a televised interview on Saturday, Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that countries joining US sanctions against Iran will be considered an enemy, and Tehran would retaliate by targeting their interests, the Tasnim News Agency reported.

Rezaei said Iran's defense strategy and international behavior have undergone significant changes following the US-Israeli war of aggression. Iran would have to adapt both its defense and diplomatic approaches considering US violation of its commitments and betrayal in negotiations, he added.

He also criticized Trump's policies, saying his "foolishness" has created a huge burden for the US people, its allies and the whole world, and that the US president has increased the logistic risk to global trade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday dismissed the threat of new US sanctions as a sign of desperation.

Describing what he said were "repetitive scenarios", Araghchi said in a video posted on Telegram, "The fact that they (US leaders) have moved on from military operations... to bring up the same old plans shows that they are desperate."

Washington must speak to Iran respectfully to find "a solution based on justice and honor", he added.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran had received "multiple messages from neighboring countries" regarding the formation of new security arrangements and economic cooperation across the region.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Pakistani army chief Asim Munir would visit Tehran on Monday to meet senior Iranian officials, Al Jazeera reported. The talks were said to focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation and regional peace.

Last week, Trump launched an economic campaign against Iran after Washington failed to achieve a breakthrough with Tehran as their memorandum of understanding signed in June expired on Aug 17.

Agencies contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com