Iran’s President States Direct Talks with U.S. Could Happen if Hostility Abandoned

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran may consider direct negotiations with the United States if Washington shows through actions that it is not antagonistic towards the Islamic Republic, stated President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.

Pezeshkian addressed a question during a press conference in Tehran regarding the possibility of engaging in direct talks with the U.S. aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The previous U.S. administration under Donald Trump abandoned that deal in 2018, claiming it was overly beneficial to Iran, and reimposed stringent sanctions, which led Tehran to progressively breach the nuclear limits outlined in the agreement.

"We are not hostile towards the U.S. They should end their hostility towards us by demonstrating their goodwill in practice," Pezeshkian mentioned, adding, "We are brothers with the Americans as well."

Since taking office in January 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden has sought to negotiate a revival of the nuclear pact, which required Iran to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from sanctions imposed by the U.S., European Union, and the United Nations.

However, Tehran has declined to negotiate directly with Washington and has largely engaged through European or Arab intermediaries.