President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran has said the United States must first cease its attacks on his country before a face-to-face meeting can be arranged. His remarks followed reports that President Trump had indicated he was open to meeting with Iranian officials in New York.
Pezeshkian told CBS News that the atmosphere of distrust between the two countries makes a direct meeting difficult. “As long as they don’t cease doing what they’re imposing on us every day, it’s difficult to trust them,” he said. “Every day, they increase the sanctions against us. Every day, they threaten us. Every day, they strike us. And they don’t honor what they have put in writing. So if they engage in talks, will they actually follow through?”
He added that if the U.S. accepts Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran would “abide by whatever we commit to.” The proposal, offered by Iran’s foreign minister, calls for the strait to reopen after seven days and for talks to restart as an initial step toward a final nuclear deal. The U.S. has yet to respond.
The Atmosphere of Distrust
The doubt Pezeshkian expresses concerns previous American conduct during talks. He cited instances where the United States struck Iran, and he wondered whether any negotiations would prove sincere.
“If this message reaches the president of the United States, or the interviewers and those involved in the discussions, naturally the process will begin from the very day they accept it,” he said.
He also blamed the U.S. for the collapse of the ceasefire agreement known as the “memorandum of understanding” (MOU) over the summer. The 60-day ceasefire deal collapsed in July and was meant to buy time for Iran and the U.S. to talk about Iran’s nuclear program.
The Nuclear Stalemate
In recent times, Iran has brought its stock of enriched uranium close to weapons-grade purity. Despite this, Iran rejects any claim that it seeks to build a nuclear weapon and has refused to end its uranium enrichment program entirely.
Iran must cease enriching uranium, according to Mr. Trump’s position, which represents a tougher posture than the Obama-era agreement. That deal permitted limited enrichment while placing restraints on scale and providing for inspector oversight.
Pezeshkian told CBS News that Iran would now allow U.N. nuclear inspectors into the country. “That is absolutely correct,” he said. He also said, “If they wish to come in and have inspections, we can reach accords and agreements vis-à-vis that specific topic within the negotiations.”
The Supreme Leader’s Health
Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has stayed out of public view since the U.S.-Israeli strike that took the life of his father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, earlier this year. Pezeshkian made clear that the new supreme leader has “no specific ongoing health issues or challenges.”, even though he has not appeared before the people.
He reported two meetings with the person, including one that ran over seven hours. He said that was the last time they saw each other. “From a medical standpoint, he’s completely healthy,” he said. “Hear this from me as a physician, and accept it. He has no issues.”
The president responded to questions about whether Mojtaba Khamenei advises Pezeshkian on diplomacy by saying that a team made up of six members from different organizations, security forces, parliamentary representatives, and government agencies carries out negotiations and makes decisions together.
The Shipping Dispute
Iran wants ships to ask for permission and use a route approved by Iran, while the U.S. says Iran should not run the waterways that feed into the Strait of Hormuz, which pass through Omani territory, or collect money from passing ships.
“If they operate according to that framework, I think all of us will abide by it,” Pezeshkian said.
The Diplomatic Context
Mr. Trump told the General Assembly that he holds a “big decision to make” on whether to strike a bargain with Iran or “annihilate” it instead. He forecast that no accord will be reached until after the midterms.
Officials at the top of the US administration communicated indirectly via go-betweens, while the president kept his distance from Iranian representatives and did not hold direct meetings with them.
What Comes Next
The U.S. has yet to respond to Iran’s proposal.
The plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz hangs on larger questions about trust, inspections, and what becomes of the nuclear program.
Whether the U.S. responds, and how, remains to be seen.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| U.S. position | Insists Iran should not control waterways entering the strait |
| Iranian position | Demands ships seek permission and follow an approved route |
| Proposal timeline | Reopen strait after seven days, restart talks |
| Response status | U.S. has yet to answer |
Source material: “Iranian President Pezeshkian talks about proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz,” CBS News.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.