Sri Lanka, April 20 -- Iran needs to end the war against the United States and Israel as swiftly as possible to focus on the bigger task of reconstruction, according to President Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a series of meetings with public workers in Tehran, Pezeshkian said the country's leadership needed to be honest to preserve public trust.

Striking a more moderate tone than others in the regime's leadership, Pezeshkian said that while Iran must resist "excessive demands, we must recognize that continuing the conflict benefits no one - not us, not the other side, and not the future of the region or coming generations."

In another meeting, he said that "every rational and diplomatic path must be used to reduce tensions."

"After the end of...