Iran President Signals Readiness for New Deal With US Ahead of Putin Talks

 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signalled that Tehran remains open to restoring a June agreement with the United States, saying Iran would reciprocate if Washington returns to its commitments under the deal.

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Tuesday, September 1, while attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he was also scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Iranian president said Tehran was prepared to take reciprocal steps if the United States returned to its obligations under the memorandum of understanding reached in June. The agreement was intended to help end hostilities between Iran and the US, but later broke down amid disagreements over its implementation.

Pezeshkian's comments came amid renewed tensions between the two countries. The United States and Iran exchanged attacks on Monday after more than a month of relative calm, raising concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict.

A major point of disagreement remains the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for global oil shipments. Tehran has maintained that it would reopen the waterway under the terms of the June agreement if Washington also fulfils its commitments.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also called on Washington to return to the commitments it made under the agreement, saying this could put the diplomatic process back on track.

Pezeshkian's latest comments suggest that despite the renewed military confrontation, Tehran still sees negotiations as a possible route toward reducing tensions with Washington.

The Iranian president was expected to hold talks with Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Russia has strengthened its strategic and economic relationship with Iran in recent years, including through a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed by the two countries earlier this year.

The meeting with Putin comes at a sensitive moment for Iran as it seeks to maintain relations with Russia and China while also leaving the door open to renewed negotiations with the United States.

Whether Washington will respond positively to Pezeshkian's proposal remains uncertain, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of violating previous commitments.