In a significant escalation of tensions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on February 21, 2026, that Iran would not yield to the pressures from world powers, particularly the United States, stating, "World powers are lining up to force us to bow our heads... but we will not bow our heads despite all the problems that they are creating for us." His remarks come amid heightened speculation of a potential US military strike on Iran, with President Donald Trump suggesting that "bad things" could happen if a deal is not reached soon, and reports indicating a buildup of US naval forces in the region, including two aircraft carriers positioned close to Iran's coast (geo.tv, jpost).