Iran's president fires back at Trump's 'bluster,' insists deal is a two-way street

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian laid out his government's principled stance Sunday on the recurring friction in peace negotiations with the United States.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pezeshkian said "an agreement is a two-way matter," adding that "if the US complies with the memorandum of understanding, we will fulfill our obligations as well."

He said Iran's approach to what he called "irrational bluster and hollow threats" was to base decisions on rationality and human dignity, and to act with resolve and fearless defense.

The remarks came after four days of armed conflict between the US and Iran — from Wednesday through Saturday — over a dispute on control of the Strait of Hormuz that brought the peace negotiations to the brink of collapse.

After Iran attacked vessels attempting to transit the strait, the US launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian coastal military facilities, and Iran then attempted counter-strikes against US military bases in the region. Qatar stepped in to mediate, and the two sides halted the four-day exchange of fire, averting for now the collapse of the 60-day truce established under the MOU.

A White House spokesperson said working-level talks with Iran would resume in Doha, Qatar, with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff dispatched to attend. Iran said it had not yet confirmed whether it would send a delegation to the talks but that consultations with Qatar were continuing.

Pezeshkian's statement Sunday about fulfilling obligations was interpreted as a signal that Iran does not intend, at least for now, to tear up the MOU or walk away from the negotiating table.

Under the MOU signed June 17, the US and Iran agreed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and to pursue further negotiations on Iran's denuclearization and the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

Iran has maintained that the MOU explicitly recognizes Iranian jurisdiction over the strait, and has insisted on its right to control vessel transit on the basis of sovereignty.

Article 5 of the MOU states that Iran will take its best efforts to ensure safe passage for merchant vessels, and will consult with other coastal states and engage in dialogue with Oman to establish future management of the strait and maritime services in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereignty of coastal states.

The US, however, rejects Iran's position, arguing that under international law Iran must guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as an international waterway.

The two countries' conflicting interpretations of the MOU — each reading it in its own favor — surfaced almost immediately after it was signed and ultimately escalated into armed conflict, with each side accusing the other of violating the agreement.

US President Donald Trump ordered military retaliation for Iran's attack on an oil tanker on Friday, and warned that if the situation deteriorated further, "Iran will no longer exist." Pezeshkian appeared to be responding directly to Trump's remarks and military orders, dismissing them as "irrational bluster" and "hollow threats" while spelling out Iran's counter-posture.

The US and Iran appear set to continue their standoff over the fundamental dispute on control of the Strait of Hormuz. Mediating countries including Qatar are focused on finding a compromise, concerned that follow-on peace negotiations between the two sides could fall apart.

If working-level talks resume, observers expect discussions to center on a compromise for implementing the opening of the Strait of Hormuz — a prerequisite for the follow-on negotiations spelled out in the MOU.