Tehran is sending a stern message to international mediators as tensions with Israel and the US skyrocket. President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Friday that while Iran seeks peace, it will fiercely defend its honor and sovereignty. This comes just after the nation mourned the loss of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, a moment some foes may have misjudged.
In a pointed post on X, Pezeshkian addressed the growing mediation efforts by certain nations. ‘We remain committed to peace in the region,’ he wrote, ‘but we have no hesitation in protecting our nation’s dignity and independence. Mediation should target those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict.’
The statement arrives amid reports of fresh Iranian ballistic missile barrages on Israel, featuring the advanced Khorramshahr-4 super-heavy missile. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon’s Sidon, targeting a residential building near Al-Siddiq Mosque, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Ambulances rushed to the scene, though casualty details remain unclear.
On the other side, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled intensified operations against Iran from CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa. ‘We’re built for this fight, and we’re here to win it,’ he told reporters, praising Operation Epic Fury’s progress. Hegseth highlighted strikes dismantling Iran’s navy, missile infrastructure, and air dominance, crediting CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper and over 50,000 US service members.
‘Operation Epic Fury has already inflicted severe damage on Iran’s military capabilities,’ Hegseth noted. Cooper added that in the last 72 hours alone, US bombers struck nearly 200 targets deep inside Iran, including areas around Tehran.
The conflict’s ripples reached Kuwait, where the Defense Ministry reported 67 armed forces personnel injured amid heightened tensions. Officials intercepted 212 ballistic missiles and 394 drones targeting Kuwaiti airspace in recent days. Spokesman Saud Al-Atwan affirmed the forces’ full readiness, coordinating 24/7 with security agencies.
As mediation attempts falter, Iran’s defiance underscores a volatile Middle East standoff, where underestimation could prove costly for all involved.