Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced yesterday, Tuesday, that he has instructed the country’s Foreign Minister to work towards achieving “fair and balanced negotiations” with the United States, marking Tehran’s first official indication of a willingness to resume dialogue, despite ongoing tensions following last month’s violent crackdown on popular protests.
This announcement signifies a shift in the stance of the reformist president, who had recently warned Iranians that unrest was slipping beyond his control, and suggests he has secured the backing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for the initiative, following a previous rejection of any such talks.
However, the potential for reaching an agreement remains unclear, particularly after former U.S. President Donald Trump included the Iranian nuclear program as part of his demands for any future negotiations. Trump had ordered the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day campaign against Iran last June.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian explained in both English and Persian that the decision was made in response to requests from “friendly governments in the region,” asserting that the negotiations would be “free from threats and unreasonable expectations, guided by principles of dignity, wisdom, and interest.”
So far, the United States has not officially acknowledged the possibility of these talks.
