Iranian president offers US olive branch before Putin meeting

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Tuesday his intention to reciprocate any US move to return to the June deal aimed at ending their conflict, as he prepares to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a regional summit. The two leaders were scheduled to engage in discussions off the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan, a bloc supported by Russia and China as an alternative to Western powers.

Pezeshkian stated that if the United States adheres to its obligations under the memorandum of understanding, Iran will immediately take reciprocal action. This deal, initially intended to pave the way for final peace talks, had subsequently failed, with both sides alleging breaches of its terms. The Strait of Hormuz remains a contentious issue between Iran and the US, with Tehran currently maintaining its blockade while asserting its commitment to the June accord, which includes reopening the waterway if the US fulfills its end.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously appealed to the US to "return to its commitments and to what their president signed," emphasizing that everything could be rectified. During the SCO summit, which is currently underway four-and-a-half years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and six months into the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran, Chinese President Xi Jinping remarked that Russia-China relations had grown stronger, with prospects looking even brighter.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that cooperation between their nations was progressing successfully across all fronts. Russia's economy has become increasingly reliant on China since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and both Moscow and Beijing have significantly strengthened their military and economic ties.

However, US President Donald Trump has cautioned Moscow and Beijing against providing arms to Iran. Although the SCO has traditionally centered on economic matters, it has gained prominence in recent years under the guidance of Russian and Chinese leadership. In addition to its original 10 members, the SCO now boasts 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as well as two observer states: Afghanistan and Mongolia.