US 'bullying' would only complicate diplomatic efforts, Iran says

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the US must change its approach toward Tehran, warning that reliance on coercion and “bullying” would only complicate diplomatic efforts.

“The US must correct its tone and approach in dealing with Iran, as relying on coercion and bullying will only complicate the implementation processes” for the Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran on Monday, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

Pezeshkian described establishing lasting peace and security in the region along with cooperation and coordination among Muslim countries as a “fundamental necessity.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said "another defeat" for the US was in the offing, saying the Islamic Republic had a "two-year plan" to counter Washington's new sanctions.

"They have done everything they could to test the determination of the Iranian people and the country's officials, but they have failed every time. It seems they wished to suffer yet another defeat," Madanizadeh told state television.

"We've been waiting for these plans for a long time, and the government is and was ready and has a two-year plan to manage these events," he added.

Iran ‘dismisses’ pressure

Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s army chief met with Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in Tehran, as Islamabad pushes to revive stalled direct talks between Iran and the US.

The meeting came during Munir’s ongoing visit to Tehran, where he is discussing new proposals with Iranian officials following fresh contacts with Washington, multiple Pakistani government sources told Anadolu.​​​​​​​

According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Qalibaf told Munir that Washington had repeatedly failed to honour its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

“The commitments of the parties under the memorandum of understanding are clear, and it was the US that, by failing to honour its commitments, prevented stability from being established in the region and provided another reason for distrust toward it,” he was quoted as saying.

Qalibaf, who is also heading Iran’s negotiating team, rejected the prospect of Tehran yielding to pressure and said Iran was pursuing the implementation of the memorandum’s terms.

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Source: TRT