Iranian President Pezeshkian Signals Willingness For Talks With US
Pezeshkian signals openness to talks while stressing mistrust.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated that Iran remains willing to negotiate with the United States but continues to approach Washington with caution, stressing that Tehran will honour its commitments only if the other side fulfils its obligations as well.
Pezeshkian made the remarks during a televised interview on Friday night while discussing diplomatic efforts surrounding a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Iran and the US in June. He indicated that progress could be made if Iranian actions were met with reciprocal and proportional steps from Washington, while acknowledging that the two sides may not achieve all their objectives through negotiations.
Under the MoU, the United States was expected to lift a naval blockade and sanctions targeting Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, as well as release Iranian frozen assets. Pezeshkian said Iran had exported nearly 90 million barrels of oil during the period when the agreement was being implemented. The June understanding had envisaged negotiations within 60 days, with the deadline falling on August 17, but the future of the talks remains uncertain following an escalation between the two countries last month.
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Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of adhering to the commitments contained in the MoU. His remarks come as Iran continues to face significant economic pressures, including inflation and challenges related to employment, investment and production. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a separate message marking Government Week, urged greater attention to economic and livelihood concerns while promoting domestic production and investment.
The Iranian position comes amid continued pressure from US President Donald Trump, who earlier this month announced tougher economic measures against Iran and described them as an unprecedented campaign of economic isolation. Tehran's willingness to consider negotiations therefore remains closely tied to whether Washington is prepared to take corresponding measures and provide assurances on its commitments.
The latest remarks suggest that while diplomatic engagement has not been ruled out, substantial differences remain between Tehran and Washington. Any renewed negotiations are likely to depend on reciprocal steps, the implementation of earlier commitments and the broader political and economic conditions surrounding the two countries.
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