Iran's president says Tehran favors dialogue, but won't be forced to surrender
Tehran, Aug 8
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed the country's commitment to pursuing dialogue to safeguard its rights, while emphasising that Tehran will not be forced to surrender.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in an interview, published on the website of his office on Friday (local time), defending the Iranian government's decision to enter negotiations with the United States and sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war.
Pezeshkian said Iran remains committed to its obligations as long as the United States fulfils its commitments under the MoU, adding, "Wherever they fail to fulfil their commitment, we have no obligation to continue."
Earlier this week, Pezeshkian denied that he was stepping down and said he would "continue his work resolutely." The remarks came amid rumoured "divisions" within Iran's leadership over the MoU.
In June, Iran and the United States signed the MoU, under which the two sides were scheduled to hold negotiations within a 60-day period to reach a final agreement. However, renewed tensions between the two have left the talks' fate uncertain.
Meanwhile, on Thursday night, two explosions were heard on Iran's southern Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province as a result of the Iranian armed forces' confrontation with "hostile enemy targets" at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
Tasnim cited informed sources as saying that the explosions were heard at around 21:40 local time (1810 GMT), adding that the "achievements" of the Iranian naval forces' confrontation will be announced in the coming hours.
It also quoted Ahmad Nafisi, Hormozgan's deputy governor for political, security and social affairs, as saying that no strike or incident had been reported on Qeshm Island and the provincial capital Bandar Abbas.
He added that the relevant authorities are carrying out the necessary investigations to identify the cause of the explosions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The situation in the Gulf is always volatile. As an Indian, I'm concerned about the impact on oil prices and our diaspora in the region. Dialogue is good, but actions matter more. These explosions in Qeshm Island are worrying signs.
Iran is playing a smart diplomatic game here. They're saying "we'll talk, but won't kneel" — that's the classic approach many nations use when dealing with superpowers. India itself has navigated similar waters between the US and Russia for decades. Respect to Pezeshkian for holding his ground.
The MoU seems fragile already with renewed tensions. If both sides keep violating trust, how will final negotiations work? The explosions near the Strait of Hormuz are especially alarming — that's one of the world's most critical shipping routes. We Indians should closely monitor this for our trade and energy imports. 😟
From a neutral perspective, Iran's position is familiar — many nations talk tough but eventually bend when sanctions bite. The real question is whether the US will honor its side. History suggests this MoU might face the same fate as the earlier JCPOA.
"Wherever they fail to fulfil their commitment, we have no obligation to continue" — that's a fair principle in any international agreement. But I wish leaders would remember that ordinary citizens pay the price when geopolitical games go wrong. The Iranian people, like many in the developing world, just want peace and prosperity. Let's hope wisdom prevails on all sides.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.