Iran-US peace MoU serves Tehran’s interests: Pezeshkian

Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the peace memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States serves the interests of Tehran, West Asia and the wider world.

Addressing a ceremony in Tehran, Pezeshkian said implementation of the MoU would prevent the United States and Israel from creating chaos, aggression and insecurity in the region. He said regional countries would then be able to move ahead on the path of stability and development, according to a statement issued by his office.

The Iranian President also called for greater unity and solidarity among Muslim nations to counter what he described as the “sinister plots” of Iran’s enemies, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Iran has never started a war,” Pezeshkian said, adding that while the country did not welcome conflict, it would firmly resist any aggression. “No power can force a nation that stands with all its strength and will into surrender,” he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, warned in a social-media post on Saturday that “major” attempts were being made to manipulate global energy markets for personal gain and to prolong the US war against Iran.

In a separate development, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said security forces had dealt a “decisive” blow to a group it described as a terrorist cell linked to the United States and Israel in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. One member of the group was killed and six others were arrested, the IRGC said.

Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28, according to the report. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel as well as US bases and assets in the region, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States and Iran signed the MoU on June 18 to end the conflict across the region. Under its provisions, the two sides were to begin negotiations within 60 days to reach a final agreement. The deadline ended on August 17, but the future of the talks remains uncertain following renewed escalation between the two countries last month.

(Inputs from IANS)