Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that peace negotiations will only succeed if they are conducted without pressure, threats or coercion, as the months-long Middle East war remains at a stalemate.
Pezeshkian made the remarks on Friday while addressing a regional summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Turkmenistan.
According to the Iranian president, dialogue can only produce meaningful results when both parties respect each other and honour their commitments.
“Dialogue holds meaning and a chance of success only when based on mutual respect and mutual commitments, and when devoid of pressure and threat,” he said.
He added that negotiations conducted under the threat of force were not genuine negotiations but rather an attempt to impose conditions on the other party.
Pezeshkian also warned that sanctions against Iran could have serious consequences for regional trade, connectivity, energy supplies and stability.
His latest comments came days after he described negotiations with the United States as pointless, arguing that previous discussions had been followed by renewed attacks.
The conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran while Washington and Tehran were engaged in negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.
In June, the warring parties agreed to a memorandum of understanding outlining a framework for a permanent resolution to the conflict. However, the agreement failed to end the hostilities.
Tensions escalated again after Iran attacked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the United States to resume military operations.
Since then, negotiations between the two countries have remained largely stalled. Recent indirect discussions on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly also failed to produce a breakthrough.
In recent weeks, Washington has reduced its military operations against Iran and shifted towards economic pressure. The United States has not launched a strike against Iran since September 1, according to the report.
The United States and Israel have maintained that their military campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran, however, has repeatedly denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has become a major focus of the conflict following the disruption of shipping through the strategic waterway, which has affected global energy markets.
Iran has sought to control access to the vital shipping route since the war began, attacking vessels attempting to pass without its authorisation.
The United States has also imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports and attacked vessels it accuses of violating the restrictions.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the conflict remains unresolved, with disagreements over sanctions, military pressure and control of the Strait of Hormuz continuing to complicate efforts to achieve a lasting peace.
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