Iran defends the memorandum as Pakistan schedules Tehran talks
Pezeshkian defended the memorandum after its 60-day deadline expired without agreement. Pakistan's army commander Asim Munir is due in Tehran on Monday to discuss sanctions, the peace plan and the Houthis.
Geopolitics··Evening
Pezeshkian argues the memorandum contains no capitulation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the memorandum signed with Washington contained no provision amounting to capitulation. In a speech carried by Iran's state news agency, he said members of the Supreme National Security Council regarded the text as the best agreement available on the grounds of dignity, wisdom and the national interest. He added that the supreme leader sets policy and the government would follow it. The memorandum signed by Trump in June set a 60-day period to end the war and reach an accord on Iran's nuclear programme. That period expired last week with the two sides still apart on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.[1]
Pezeshkian links the impasse to investment risk
Pezeshkian also connected the memorandum to economic conditions, saying capital was highly sensitive to risk and that the country could not attract investment while the impasse continued. Iran's economy remains under sanctions and a naval blockade as the war with the United States and Israel approaches its sixth month. Mohsen Rezaei, the new head of the Supreme National Security Council, separately told state broadcaster IRIB that Iran would retaliate and target oil-shipping routes in the Gulf if neighbouring states joined the American economic campaign. The latter position was reported as an Iranian official's statement to the state broadcaster.[1]
Asim Munir will meet senior officials in Tehran on Monday
Iran's foreign ministry announced that Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, would travel to Tehran on Monday. Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Munir would meet senior Iranian officials to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional peace and security. Two Pakistani government sources told Reuters that Islamabad and Tehran were in direct contact and that the agenda included peace under the Islamabad memorandum, Trump's warning of tougher sanctions, the situation after the Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arabia agreement, and the Houthis. The announcement followed a Sunday morning telephone call between Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.[2]
