Iran's President Points to Washington as Truce Collapses

Ten days have passed since the last American strike on Iran, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the interim deal intended to end the war with the United States and Israel has come apart. In comments broadcast by Iranian Press TV on Saturday, Pezeshkian assigned the failure to Washington. He also called for both sides to return to the deal and "conclude it."

The collapse of the pact has raised the prospect of new attacks as early as this weekend. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he "may do another little Epic Fury," using the codename for the US-Israeli war against Iran that began on February 28. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned through the semi-official Fars News Agency that even limited strikes would bring a response "several times greater."

Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi said Saturday that the US military would not be allowed into the Gulf "under any circumstances and at any time." Abdollahi said Trump could only "dream" of US forces entering the Gulf, adding that he would take the dream to the grave.

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani wrote in a memo that Tehran would not "wait for permission to defend itself." She said the country "seeks peace but will respond to any aggression with severe consequences." Her memo added: "Our position is clear: we do not flee from dialogue for peace, and we do not hesitate in defending the country. Those who harbour the illusion of destroying Iran must correct your calculations."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he remains committed to overthrowing Iran's government. Israeli voters choose a new government on Tuesday, and Trump's Republican Party faces midterm elections on November 3, where Democrats could win control of both the House and the Senate.

Iranian judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to discuss tackling corruption and pursuing compensation for Iranians affected by the war. Khamenei took the position after his father was assassinated during the opening strikes on February 28 and has not been seen in public since assuming the role in early March. Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was reported to have met Khamenei earlier this week.