IRAN PRESIDENT EXTENDS DIPLOMATIC OVERTURE TO US AHEAD OF PUTIN MEETING
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AGENCY REPORT
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is prepared to reciprocate if the United States returns to its commitments under a June agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the two countries.
Pezeshkian made the statement on Tuesday as he prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan.
The Iranian leader said any renewed commitment by Washington to the earlier agreement would be met with an immediate response from Tehran.
“I state explicitly that if the United States returns to its commitments under the aforementioned Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take reciprocal action,” Pezeshkian said, according to a statement published on the Iranian presidency’s website.
The memorandum was designed to pave the way for an end to hostilities between Tehran and Washington, which began in late February following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
However, the agreement later collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of breaching its terms.
Pezeshkian’s comments came amid renewed tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran and the United States exchanged fire again on Monday following more than a month of relative calm.
Tehran has continued to restrict access to the strategic waterway but said it would honour its commitments under the June agreement, including reopening the strait, if Washington also fulfils its obligations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi similarly called on the US on Monday to return to the commitments signed by its president, saying such a move could put relations “back on the right track.”
Pezeshkian’s planned meeting with Putin comes as Russia and China continue to strengthen their strategic partnership.
Putin met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday at the SCO summit, which is also being attended by leaders from countries including Turkey, India and Pakistan.
The summit is taking place more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and months into the latest conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Xi described relations between Moscow and Beijing as increasingly strong, while Putin said cooperation between the two countries was developing successfully across multiple areas.
Russia has become increasingly reliant on China economically since the invasion of Ukraine, while Moscow has also expanded its military and economic cooperation with Iran.
US President Donald Trump has, however, warned both Moscow and Beijing against providing military support to Iran.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, originally focused largely on economic cooperation, has expanded its influence under the leadership of Russia and China. The group currently has 10 member states, alongside 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as Afghanistan and Mongolia as observer states.
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