Tehran [Iran], May 24: Iran's president has shown openness to a diplomatic solution in the current conflict, but at the same time called for "utmost caution" in negotiations with the United States.
"We remain ready for talks, but experiences from past negotiations with the US force us to exercise utmost caution," Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday at a meeting with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir. Pakistan is mediating in the conflict with the US.
Iran harbours "deep mistrust" of the US due to repeated breaches of agreements and military attacks during ongoing negotiations, Pezeshkian said, according to the presidential office's web portal. "War has never brought any benefit to anyone, and the US will not emerge as a winner in this conflict either," Pezeshkian was quoted as saying. Instead, countries inside and outside the region would suffer heavy losses as a result of this conflict.
Iran would stick to its course and continue to insist on its legitimate rights, the president said. He gave no details on the current state of negotiations. Munir, in a statement released by his office, said: "The intensive negotiations over the last twenty-four hours have resulted in encouraging progress towards a final understanding." He did not release any details.
Munir met with Pezeshkian, parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, among others.
Iran's mission to the United Nations has accused Washington of "excessive demands" that are pushing peace talks towards collapse amid reports that President Trump's administration is preparing for strikes on Iran if negotiations to secure a deal fail.
Source: Qatar Tribune