- Iran will immediately take reciprocal action if Washington remains committed to its obligations under the MOU, accuses the US of reneging on its commitments under the agreement — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian
Iran is ready to return to an interim ceasefire if the United States restores its commitments under the agreement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Pezeshkian said Iran would immediately take reciprocal action if Washington returned to its obligations under the memorandum of understanding. Pezeshkian accused the United States of reneging on its commitments under the agreement, which collapsed in June after both sides accused each other of violating its terms.
The comments came shortly after the United States and Iran exchanged fire for the first time in more than a month. Washington said it had struck Iranian minelaying forces on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, while Iran responded by targeting US forces in the Middle East.
Iran has repeatedly said it will allow free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but on its own terms. Efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict remain unresolved.
Pezeshkian meets Putin
During the SCO summit, Pezeshkian also met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed solidarity with Iran and said Russia and Iran were maintaining their economic and trade ties despite the current political environment. Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Russia’s position on sanctions against Iran and criticized the United States for imposing sanctions on other countries.
The SCO summit also brought Putin together with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi said China-Russia relations had become stronger and their prospects were increasingly promising, while Putin said bilateral cooperation was developing across all areas.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, promoted by Russia and China as an alternative to Western-led international structures, has 10 members, including Iran, India and Pakistan, and 15 dialogue partners, among them Türkiye and Qatar.
