Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 24 May declared that Tehran will protect its national interests at all costs and will exercise the 'utmost caution' in ongoing negotiations with Washington, citing a long history of broken commitments and hostile acts by the United States. The remarks came during a high-level meeting with visiting Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Tehran, according to a presidency statement.

Pezeshkian's Warning to Washington

President Pezeshkian pointed to Washington's repeated breach of commitments, attacks on Iran during active talks, and the targeted killings of Iranian officials as the root causes of deep public mistrust within the country. He stated that Iran has pursued negotiations by leaning on its 'brotherly relations' with friendly nations, but was unambiguous about the bottom line. 'Our main goal is to solely safeguard the Iranian nation's interests through appropriate solutions,' he said. He added, 'We merely seek to safeguard our people's legal and legitimate rights, but our history and experience of negotiating with the United States urge us to exercise utmost caution.'

Pakistan Army Chief's Visit to Tehran

General Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday night and used the meeting to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to regional stability. He welcomed the progress made in the ongoing negotiations and expressed hope that the talks would yield favourable results for Iran and the broader region, according to reports. The visit underscores Islamabad's positioning as a potential diplomatic bridge between Tehran and Washington — a role it has actively cultivated since hosting the first round of peace talks.

Iran's Three Red Lines

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Saturday, citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, that peace talks are 'doomed to failure' if Washington does not show flexibility on three core issues. Tehran insists on not discussing its nuclear programme at this stage, the release of its frozen assets prior to further negotiations, and retaining control and management over the Strait of Hormuz. 'No negotiation will take place if the three remaining serious issues of disagreement are not resolved,' the report noted.

Background: Ceasefire and Stalled Talks

Iran, the United States, and Israel reached a ceasefire on 8 April after 40 days of fighting that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February. Following the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Islamabad on 11 and 12 April, which failed to produce an agreement. Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict, though no breakthrough has been announced.

What Comes Next

President Pezeshkian also reiterated that war is not in anyone's interest and would only bring losses to the region and the world — a signal that Tehran remains open to diplomacy, but strictly on its own terms. With Iran's three non-negotiable conditions still unresolved and public mistrust running high domestically, the path to a durable agreement remains uncertain. Observers will watch whether Washington signals any flexibility on the frozen assets question, which Tehran has set as a precondition for substantive talks.