Iran says US must change approach or complicate war-ending deal

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran as Islamabad pressed to revive a collapsed United States-Iran accord aimed at ending the six-month war between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan has served as the principal mediator, having brokered the original June deal between Tehran and Washington.

Naqvi described the encounter as a “very positive and productive meeting” in a statement. “The Iranian president candidly shared his government’s perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved,” Naqvi said. “Significant progress was made, and the meeting concluded on a highly positive note.”

Naqvi said the discussions focused on the U.S.-Iran war, regional tensions across the Middle East and steps needed to restore the Islamabad-mediated memorandum of understanding intended to end the fighting.

In a separate readout, Pezeshkian’s office said Pezeshkian and Munir both agreed the United States needed to alter its posture toward Tehran and comply with the terms of the June memorandum. “The United States must change its tone and approach in its dealings with Iran, because relying on coercion and bullying will only complicate the implementation process,” Pezeshkian said.

The memorandum was signed in mid-June by Iran and the United States and laid the foundation for negotiations to end the war. It established a 60-day negotiating period scheduled to end Aug. 17, but the accord collapsed in early August over differences on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy transportation route in the Middle East.

Iran has enforced a military blockade of the strait since the war began Feb. 28 and is seeking to maintain authority over vessels transiting it. The United States has been using military and economic might to restore freedom of navigation through the chokepoint.

On Monday, the United States announced further tightening of financial pressure on Iran.