Iran President Defends US Memorandum as Best Exit from Stalled War

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday defended the June memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best available route out of a prolonged state of neither war nor peace.

In a speech carried by state media IRNA, Pezeshkian said members of the Supreme National Security Council viewed the memorandum as the strongest agreement possible under the principles of dignity, wisdom and national interest. "There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation," he stated. "The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path."

The memorandum, signed in mid-June, established a 60-day window for ending hostilities and negotiating a broader nuclear accord. That period closed last week without agreement. Disagreement persists over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments that had functioned as an open international waterway before the conflict began nearly six months earlier.

Pezeshkian linked the current impasse to economic damage, noting that capital is highly sensitive to risk and that Iran cannot attract investment while the stalemate continues. Sanctions and a US naval blockade continue to pressure the Iranian economy.

Meanwhile, the new head of Iran’s top security body warned of retaliation if neighbouring countries support further US sanctions. Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir was scheduled to visit Tehran on Monday as part of ongoing mediation efforts.