Iran's President Reveals Mediation Efforts Amid Escalating Conflict with the US and Israel

Iran's Stance on Mediation and Ongoing Conflict

Tehran: On Friday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that certain nations have initiated mediation efforts aimed at resolving the escalating tensions with the United States and Israel, which recently culminated in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian emphasized, "While we are dedicated to achieving lasting peace in the region, we will not shy away from defending our nation's dignity and sovereignty. Mediation must focus on those who have underestimated the Iranian populace and sparked this conflict," he stated in a post on X.

His remarks coincided with reports indicating that Iran has intensified its military actions against Israel, deploying ballistic missiles, including the advanced Khorramshahr-4.

According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the commencement of the "22nd wave of Operation True Promise 4," which involved launching a significant number of Khorramshahr-4 missiles directly targeting the occupied territories.

In a related development, an Israeli airstrike struck a residential building in Sidon, southern Lebanon, around noon on Friday, as reported by Lebanon's National News Agency.

The strike reportedly impacted the floor just below the top level of the Maqassed building, located near Al-Siddiq Mosque, with ambulances promptly dispatched to the scene. The extent of casualties or damage remains unclear.

Earlier in the day, the United States indicated that its military operations against Iran would escalate in the next phase of 'Operation Epic Fury,' with American and Israeli forces gearing up to intensify strikes aimed at dismantling Tehran's military and missile capabilities.

During a briefing at the US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that the operation has already inflicted considerable damage on Iran's military assets.

He commended CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper and the over 50,000 American service members involved in the operation, stating, "In just days of Operation Epic Fury, you and your team have delivered nothing short of devastating precise strikes, rendering much of Iran's navy combat ineffective, neutralizing missile sites and launchers, and establishing total air and sea dominance."

Hegseth reiterated, "We are built for this fight, and we are in it to win it," during a news conference at CENTCOM.

Admiral Cooper mentioned that the campaign has now entered its sixth day and is progressively degrading Iran's military capabilities.

"We are now starting our sixth day of a historic mission to eliminate Iran's ability to threaten Americans," he stated.

Cooper revealed that US air power has conducted extensive strikes deep within Iranian territory, noting, "In just the last 72 hours, America's bomber force has targeted nearly 200 sites deep inside Iran, including areas around Tehran."

He added that US stealth bombers have specifically targeted fortified missile facilities.

"In just the last hour, US B-2 bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs on deeply buried ballistic missile launchers," he said.

Additionally, American forces have targeted Iranian military infrastructure associated with space and missile operations.

"Notably, we have also struck Iran's equivalent of Space Command, which diminishes their capacity to threaten Americans," Cooper explained.

US officials reported that the strikes have significantly curtailed Iranian missile and drone activities.

"Ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90 percent since day one, and drone attacks have dropped by 83 percent since the operation began," Cooper stated.

Naval operations have also intensified during this campaign.

"You may have heard the president mention that we have sunk or destroyed 24 ships. That was accurate at the time — we are now over 30 ships," Cooper noted.

"In just the last few hours, we targeted an Iranian drone carrier ship, comparable in size to a World War II aircraft carrier, and as we speak, it is ablaze."

The operation is now pivoting towards dismantling Iran's missile production capabilities.

"The president has tasked us with raising or leveling Iran's ballistic missile industrial base. Therefore, we are not only targeting their existing assets but also destroying their capacity to rebuild," Cooper concluded.