TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that negotiations with the United States were “meaningless” and only resulted in renewed American attacks, state media reported.
Pezeshkian said the pattern of attacks after negotiations showed that Washington was not genuinely seeking dialogue with Tehran.
“So far, they have attacked us three times after talks, and this shows that they are not seeking dialogue; rather, their goal is to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency.
He said continued US actions, including what he described as assassination, sanctions, pressure and threats, had further undermined the possibility of meaningful negotiations.
“With an enemy that every day resorts to assassination, sanctions, pressure and threats, and that breaks its commitments, negotiations are meaningless.”
The war was started in late February by the US and Israel when they launched a wave of surprise attacks on Iran, even as Washington and Tehran were in the midst of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
The warring parties agreed a memorandum of understanding in June that spelled out a framework for a permanent resolution to the conflict, but Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz prompted a return to US military operations.
Negotiations have effectively been at an impasse since then, and recent indirect talks between the US and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly failed to produce a breakthrough.
Washington in recent weeks has scaled back military operations in favor of economic pressure, and has not struck Iran since Sept. 1.
On Sunday, Iran’s top diplomat insisted the United States’ war against the Islamic republic would not be resolved by military means.
Vowing a stronger defense if any attacks resumed, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: “There is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions.”
“Only negotiations based on justice and fairness” could end the conflict, he added.
The United States and Israel have said the war is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons — a goal it has long denied pursuing — though the focus soon shifted to reopening the Strait of Hormuz after its closure sent shockwaves through world energy markets.
Iran has sought to impose its control over the vital shipping lane since the start of the war, striking vessels that attempt to transit without its authorisation.
The US has imposed its own counterblockade of Iranian ports, and has also struck vessels it accuses of violating it.
A tanker was struck while attempting to transit the waterway on Sunday, while another turned back on Monday after being threatened with attack by Iranian forces, according to the British maritime agency UKMTO.
Source: Saudi Gazette