Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signalled Tehran’s willingness to revive a June understanding with the United States if Washington returns to its commitments, as he prepares for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a major regional summit.
Pezeshkian said Iran would respond immediately if the United States restored its obligations under the memorandum designed to end hostilities between the two countries. His comments come amid renewed tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and fresh exchanges of fire between Tehran and Washington.
According to a statement published on the Iranian presidency’s website, Pezeshkian said Iran was prepared to take reciprocal steps if the US returned to the commitments contained in the agreement.
The memorandum was intended to stop fighting between Iran and the United States and create conditions for broader peace negotiations. The conflict began in late February following US and Israeli attacks on Iran that killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
The agreement subsequently broke down, with Tehran and Washington blaming each other for failing to honour its provisions.
Hormuz remains key to tensions
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the most sensitive issues in the dispute.
Iran has continued to keep the strategically important waterway closed while maintaining that it could reopen the strait if the United States also honours its side of the June arrangement.
The two countries exchanged fire again on Monday after more than a month of relative calm, adding fresh uncertainty to efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also called on Washington on Monday to return to the commitments made under the agreement.
He said doing so could allow the situation to return to a more stable path.
Pezeshkian to meet Putin
Pezeshkian’s comments came ahead of his expected meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan.
The SCO gathering brings together leaders from a bloc increasingly positioned by Russia and China as an alternative to Western-led international groupings.
Putin had already met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday during the summit, which also includes leaders from countries such as Turkey, India and Pakistan.
Xi said relations between China and Russia had grown stronger, while Putin described cooperation between Moscow and Beijing as progressing across several areas.
The relationship has become particularly important for Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow becoming increasingly dependent on China economically while expanding military and economic cooperation with Iran.
US warns Russia and China
The growing ties between Moscow, Beijing and Tehran have also attracted concern from US President Donald Trump, who has warned Russia and China against supplying weapons to Iran.
Although the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was initially focused largely on economic cooperation, its influence has expanded under the leadership of Russia and China.
The organisation currently has 10 members, alongside 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.
For Iran, the latest diplomatic signal to Washington comes at a critical moment, with the Strait of Hormuz, renewed military exchanges and the prospect of further negotiations all shaping the next phase of the conflict.