Iran 'no longer trusts talks with Washington,' President Pezeshkian says

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran “no longer trust[s] talks with Washington” following what he described as repeated US attacks and sanctions after negotiations, drawing a clear red line over any renewed diplomatic engagement with the United States.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pezeshkian said Qatar and Pakistan are currently mediating between Iran and the US and conveying Tehran’s messages to Washington. He said the talks are based on a previous memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries, adding that the “Americans must state their position on it”.

Pezeshkian also said Iran would continue to resist pressure from the US and Israel, arguing that those who “thought they could target the Iranian people with sanctions miscalculated”. He accused Washington and Israel of seeking to “prevent Iran from relying on itself”, but said Tehran would instead invest in its people.

He said the US and Israel had “dragged” regional countries into war, believing that the Iranian regime “would fall within days”. Instead, he said, Iranians have “stood firm in the face of American and Israeli attacks, and we will continue to stand firm”.

His comments come as diplomatic efforts remain stalled over a proposed seven-day ceasefire put forward by Tehran. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the proposal would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen and nuclear negotiations with Washington to resume if the necessary conditions were met.

“If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, a normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi said. “The seven-day timeline will start as soon as the United States accepts this plan,” he added.

Under the proposal, Washington would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports and observe a ceasefire that includes Lebanon. In return, Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart negotiations over its nuclear programme.

Araghchi said the initial measures would take four to five days, with the strait reopening on the sixth day.

US President Donald Trump has rejected the proposal, while US officials said he expects American bombing of Iran to resume after the November midterm elections. Trump has publicly said Tehran is seeking a post-midterm deal to dismantle its nuclear programme, while privately remaining sceptical that Iran would meet his demands.

Pezeshkian said regional security could instead be achieved through “cooperation among its countries”, arguing that the region does not need a “policeman”.