What did Masoud Pezeshkian say about Iran returning to the June deal with the United States?

Pezeshkian said Iran would take reciprocal action immediately if the United States returned to its commitments under the memorandum of understanding. He tied that position to the June deal that was meant to end the war between Tehran and Washington.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz still a dispute between Iran and the United States?

The article says Tehran has kept the waterway closed while saying it would reopen it under the June deal only if the United States also fulfilled its commitments. The U.S. and Iran resumed exchanging fire on Monday after more than a month of relative calm.

What was discussed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan?

The summit brought together leaders from countries including Turkey, India and Pakistan, and Putin met Xi Jinping there on Monday. The article says the bloc has gained momentum under Russian and Chinese leadership and now includes 10 members, 15 dialogue partners and two observer countries.

Iran president offers US olive branch before Putin meeting

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Summary

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on Tuesday said Iran would respond if the United States returned to its commitments under a June memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war between Tehran and Washington. He made the remarks before a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. The war and the Strait of Hormuz remained central points of contention, while Iran's foreign minister also urged Washington to return to the deal.

Key Facts

The June memorandum of understanding was intended to end hostilities that began in late February with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The deal later collapsed after both sides accused each other of violating its terms.
Iran said it would return to its commitments under the June deal, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, if the United States did the same.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan also hosted leaders including those from Turkey, India and Pakistan.
The SCO now has 10 members, 15 dialogue partners and two observer countries, Afghanistan and Mongolia.

By AFP

Published Sep 1, 2026 4:35 pm KST
Updated Sep 1, 2026 4:44 pm KST

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Sept. 1. AFP-Yonhap

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday vowed to match any U.S. move to return to a June deal aimed at ending their war, as he prepares to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at a regional summit.

The two allies were due to hold talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan, a bloc promoted by Russia and China as an alternative to Western power.

"I state explicitly that if the United States returns to its commitments under the aforementioned memorandum of understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take reciprocal action," Pezeshkian said, according to the Iran presidency's website.

The memorandum aimed at ending hostilities between Tehran and Washington that began in late February with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran that killed former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The deal, meant to set the stage for final peace talks, later collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of violating its terms.

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Aug. 31. Reuters-Yonhap

Pezeshkian's remarks came as the Strait of Hormuz remained a key point of contention between Iran and the United States, which resumed exchanging fire on Monday after more than a month of relative calm.

Tehran has maintained its closure of the strategic waterway, while saying it would return to its commitments under the June deal, which included reopening Hormuz, if the United States did the same.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also urged the U.S. to "return to its commitments and to what their president signed."

"In that case, everything can be put back on the right track," he said.

China-Russia ties

Putin met Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday at the SCO summit, which is also playing host to leaders of countries including Turkey, India and Pakistan.

The summit takes place four-and-a-half years into Moscow's Ukraine invasion and six months into the war between Washington and Tehran.

Xi said Russia-Chinese ties had become "more solid" and that their "prospects will be even brighter," while Putin said cooperation was "successfully developing on all fronts."

Russia's economy has become increasingly dependent on China since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Moscow has also massively deepened military and economic ties with Iran.

But U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Moscow and Beijing against arming Iran.

The SCO has historically focused on economic issues but has gained momentum in recent years under Moscow's and Beijing's leadership.

On top of its 10 members, it now has 15 "dialogue partners," including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and two observer countries: Afghanistan and Mongolia.

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