Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the US must recognise Iran’s national rights and end what he described as its bullying and aggression before the two sides can engage in dialogue.
“You cannot block every path and issue threats while simultaneously demanding that we hold talks,” Mr Pezeshkian was quoted by state media as saying. He added that the current situation was undesirable for both sides.
Referring to a memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran, Mr Pezeshkian said Tehran considered it a good agreement and had made no concessions to Washington. He added that 12 of the 13 members of the Security Council had supported Iran’s move.
He said commanders of the Iranian Army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Aerospace Force, along with the judiciary, parliament and government, had reached a consensus on the matter.
Mr Pezeshkian also accused Washington of reneging on agreements, saying parties should honour their commitments once a deal had been reached, even if it proved disadvantageous.
“Not even a month has passed, and they are already claiming they do not stand by their own signature,” he said, comparing the situation to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal from which the US withdrew in 2018.
