Iranian president calls for breaking deadlock in US relations
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that Iran must break out of the exhausting stalemate in relations with the United States, where the principle of "neither war nor peace" prevails. When two states remain suspended between military confrontation and diplomatic settlement, the cost of this equilibrium is measured not only in economic sanctions but also in human lives and regional instability. Iran, according to its president, no longer wishes to remain in this viscous quagmire, where every memorandum of understanding is violated and conflict either subsides or flares up anew.
Pezeshkian insists that it is time to break out of the vicious cycle of "neither war nor peace" – and for this, diplomacy itself has already provided the tools. However, the path to normalising relations, in his view, lies not through new concessions but through mechanisms to monitor the implementation of already reached agreements.
He noted that every memorandum of understanding faces violations and stressed that a committee should be set up to address such violations rather than fuel war. "In such situations, it is usually necessary to form a team to address violations," Pezeshkian said, expressing hope that the process would continue "with dignity and honour" for Iran. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he said the United States was supposed to abide by the agreements reached between Iran and Oman but failed to do so, Iran responded, and conflict ensued.
Pezeshkian accused Washington of violating the memorandum, saying the US had begun using alternative shipping routes in the strait instead of the procedures that should have been jointly agreed by Iran and Oman. "Those who committed violations in the Strait of Hormuz received an appropriate response," he stressed, adding that all movements in the strait must be carried out in accordance with instructions jointly developed by Iran and Oman.
Pezeshkian's remarks came amid the ongoing conflict over the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world's most strategically vital maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies pass. On 17 June 2026, Iran and the US signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which, among other things, addressed shipping in the strait. However, according to the Iranian president, the US violated the agreements, prompting Tehran's retaliatory actions. Iran insists that any movement in the strait must be coordinated with Iran and Oman, which serves as a mediator in the talks.
Meanwhile, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council has presented the US with a list of conditions for reopening the strait, including halting aggression against Iran and its allies, lifting sanctions and paying compensation. Despite the tough rhetoric, Pezeshkian does not rule out further dialogue, saying that "now is the best time to reach an agreement," as Iran feels victorious in this standoff.
As CCTV+ reports, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most volatile flashpoints in the Middle East, and the Iranian president's remarks about the need to break the deadlock could signal either readiness for a new round of negotiations or an escalation of pressure on Washington to secure compliance with its demands.
