Pezeshkian: Dialogue rooted in Iran’s legal rights, not pressure

“The Iran–U.S. talks, which took place following requests from friendly regional governments, mark progress,” Pezeshkian wrote in a post on Sunday on X. “Dialogue has always been our path toward peaceful resolution. Our approach to the nuclear issue is based on the rights explicitly recognized under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).”

Pezeshkian emphasized that the Iranian people respond with respect when treated with respect, but never yield to coercion. His remarks follow a new round of indirect negotiations in Muscat, mediated by Oman, where Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi helped facilitate several hours of structured exchanges between the Iranian and American teams on Friday.

According to diplomatic sources, both sides presented viewpoints and proposals through the Omani channel. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later described the discussions as “a good start,” noting that Iran’s positions were clearly articulated and its legitimate concerns fully conveyed to the American negotiators.

Tehran’s core message remained unchanged: Iran’s right to enrich uranium on its own soil is both legal and non-negotiable. Officials consider this a red line under the NPT — a principle Iran will not compromise on, regardless of political pressure.

From Iran’s perspective, any technical or confidence-building steps can only be explored within a framework that formally acknowledges these rights, while attempts to impose conditions beyond that framework are regarded as acts of bad faith.

Iran had already engaged in five rounds of discussions on a new framework to replace the 2015 nuclear deal before the U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory and nuclear facilities in mid-June — an attack many in Tehran believe aimed to derail constructive diplomacy.

Still, Pezeshkian’s tone suggests that Iran remains committed to giving diplomacy another chance, provided it takes place “under the language of reason, not the shadow of threats.”