Iranian President "will affect our response in case of Israeli ceasefire"

Iranian President Masud Pejeshikyan said on the 3rd local time that "if Israel accepts the ceasefire and stops the slaughter, it could affect the way we respond and the intensity of our actions," according to Iran's state-run news agency.

President Pezeshikyan stressed that "acts that violate Iran's sovereignty and security will not be overlooked."

"The United States has set fire to war in the Middle East by supporting today's criminal Zionist regime," he said. "Iran has never started a war, and has never advised any country to go to war."

President Pejeshikyan's remarks come amid speculation that Iran is in a dilemma over whether to retaliate against Israel head-on or control the level of response while external variables have grown due to the imminent U.S. presidential election.