Pezeshkian backs dialogue with US but warns Iran will not be forced to surrender

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Tehran’s preference for dialogue while insisting that Iran cannot be forced into surrender.

In an interview published on his official website on Friday, Pezeshkian defended his administration’s decision to negotiate with the United States and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the war.

Pezeshkian said Iran would honour its commitments under the agreement as long as Washington fulfilled its own obligations. “Wherever they fail to fulfil their commitment, we have no obligation to continue,” he said.

The Iranian president also rejected speculation about his possible resignation amid reports of divisions within the country’s leadership over the agreement. He said he would “continue his work resolutely”.

The MoU, signed in June, established a 60-day period for the two sides to hold negotiations and work towards a final peace agreement. However, renewed diplomatic tensions have raised questions over the future of the talks.

The latest tensions followed two explosions on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province on Thursday night. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the blasts occurred after Iranian military units engaged “hostile enemy targets” near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Tasnim, the explosions took place at around 9:40 pm local time (1810 GMT), with details of the outcome of the naval engagement expected to be released later.

However, Hormozgan Deputy Governor for Political, Security and Social Affairs Ahmad Nafisi said no direct strikes or damage had been reported on Qeshm Island or in the provincial capital, Bandar Abbas.

Nafisi said relevant security agencies had launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosions.

With inputs from agencies