Iran ready to reciprocate if US honours deal, Pezeshkian says

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has indicated the country's readiness to de-escalate tensions with the United States, contingent upon Washington honoring its commitments under a June interim agreement. The statement was made during a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, as tensions between Tehran and Washington have surged following the first direct exchange of attacks since late July.

Pezeshkian's comments were reported by Iran's state media, following the United States' attack on Larak Island, which prompted Iran to retaliate by launching assaults on two US air bases in Jordan. The June interim agreement, signed between Iran and Washington, aimed to create a framework for ending the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. However, the deal's implementation has been fraught with disagreements.

Tehran has consistently linked unhindered passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to the United States' adherence to the agreement. Pezeshkian reiterated this point, stating at the summit that war is undesirable for all parties and that Iran remains open to a negotiated resolution to its conflict with Washington.

In a separate interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump indicated that "there will be a response" to the Iranian attacks, although he later clarified to reporters at the Oval Office that the renewed strikes did not signify a return to full-scale war.