Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, 25 August warned that Washington must fundamentally alter its tone and approach toward Tehran, saying US reliance on pressure tactics would only deepen diplomatic gridlock. The remarks came during a meeting with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran, according to a statement published on the presidential office's website.

Pezeshkian's Warning to Washington

'The US reliance on coercion and bullying will only complicate executive processes,' Pezeshkian said, stressing that the United States must honour its obligations toward Iran 'based on the (country's) legitimate rights and international regulations.' He expressed hope that the goals set out in the US-Iran peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) could still be achieved 'with the continuation of the will and joint cooperation.'

The MoU and Its Uncertain Future

The United States and Iran signed the peace MoU on 18 June, under which both sides were scheduled to hold negotiations within 60 days — a window that closed on 17 August — with the aim of reaching a final agreement. However, the fate of those talks remains unclear following what reports describe as renewed escalation between the two countries. No breakthrough has been publicly confirmed.

Foreign Ministry: Iran Will Not Accept Aggressor's Terms

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei addressed a weekly press conference in Tehran on the same day, drawing a hard line on the ongoing conflict. 'We have definitely not been the party to start the war, but we will not let the war's end be based on the aggressive parties' conditions,' Baghaei said.

He asserted that Iran remained determined to defend its territory and would not 'compromise with the aggressive parties' or yield to their 'excessive demands.' Baghaei also dismissed US claims that the Strait of Hormuz remained open and that millions of barrels of oil were passing through it daily, calling such assertions part of 'psychological and media warfare.'

Sanctions, Naval Blockade, and Regional Fallout

The spokesman sharply criticised Washington's newly announced anti-Iran economic operation, saying Tehran would deploy all its 'multilateral capacities' to counter US sanctions — which he characterised as a blow to free trade and national sovereignty. Baghaei also warned that third-party countries assisting US anti-Iran operations could face consequences, and labelled the reported US naval blockade an 'act of aggression.'

What Comes Next

With the 60-day MoU negotiation window now elapsed and no final agreement in sight, diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran appear under significant strain. The involvement of Pakistan's army chief in high-level talks in Tehran signals that regional powers are closely tracking — and potentially positioning themselves around — the trajectory of the US-Iran standoff.