Iran says Pak, Oman talks did not fail because of Tehran, seeks negotiations again

Iran's Pezeshkian said Tehran remains open to dialogue if the US ends sanctions and aggression, stressing that past talks failed due to broken commitments. He also said Iran is negotiating with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

In Short

• Iran ready for talks if US ends sanctions and stops attacks
• Pakistan and Oman played key roles in past peace efforts
• Trust needs rebuilding for successful future negotiations

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday said previous diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan and Oman to resolve the conflict with the United States did not fail because of Tehran, insisting that Iran remains ready for dialogue if Washington honours its commitments.

In an exclusive interview with India Today's Group Editor (Foreign Affairs) Geeta Mohan, Pezeshkian said Pakistan, a “friendly and neighbouring country”, had played a significant role in facilitating peace talks between Iran and the US, while also acknowledging Qatar’s contribution to the process.

Asked if Pakistan-mediated negotiations had failed after an earlier memorandum of understanding expired, Pezeshkian questioned why Iran should renegotiate issues that had already been agreed upon.

"I don't know what was the problem with what we wrote down in Islamabad," he said.

According to Pezeshkian, the key demands from Tehran were that the US end its sanctions and stop its attacks against Iran. He said Iran had not started the war and was prepared to stop attacking the US if Washington stopped its aggression.

"They have to terminate the sanctions," Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian said Iran was also prepared to negotiate on the nuclear issue within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and internationally recognised principles. He said the problem was that Iran had repeatedly entered negotiations only to see agreements or understandings subsequently abandoned.

Asked whether Iran would be ready for direct talks with US President Donald Trump if he approached Tehran without preconditions, Pezeshkian said it was “not easy” for Iran to make such a decision, citing the assassination of the country’s leader and the impact it had on public sentiment.

Iranian President said Iran needed to rebuild an atmosphere of trust before considering direct talks, stressing that Tehran would need assurances that Washington would honour any commitments it makes.

“We have written down something, and we have signed. The atmosphere of trust should be established again,” Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian separately said Iran was negotiating with Oman over a maritime framework for the Strait of Hormuz. He said the waterway could be opened under internationally established principles if the US ended its blockade and related activities.

- Ends