Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated his principled position regarding the recurring difficulties in ending the war with the United States.

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on June 29 (local time), President Pezeshkian said, "An agreement is a two-way street," adding, "If the U.S. adheres to the memorandum of understanding (MOU), we will also fulfill our obligations."

President Pezeshkian emphasized, "Our approach to irrational bluster and baseless threats is to base our decision-making on rationality and human dignity, and to defend ourselves firmly and without fear when it comes to action."

These remarks came as the ceasefire negotiations were jeopardized by clashes between the U.S. and Iran from June 25 to 28 over disagreements regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.

After Iran attacked vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. launched retaliatory airstrikes on coastal military facilities, and Iran attempted a counter-retaliation against U.S. military bases in the region.

Thanks to mediation by neighboring Qatar, both sides halted the four-day armed conflict, narrowly avoiding the collapse of the 60-day ceasefire agreed upon in the MOU.

A White House spokesperson announced that working-level negotiations with Iran would resume in Doha, Qatar, and that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would be dispatched.

Iran has not yet confirmed whether it will send a delegation to the talks, but stated that it is continuing consultations with Qatar.

President Pezeshkian's remarks about "fulfilling obligations" on this day are interpreted as a stance that, for now, they will not break the MOU or abandon the negotiating table.

Under the MOU signed on June 17, the U.S. and Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz and proceed with additional negotiations on Iran's denuclearization and the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

Iran maintains its position that it will control vessel passage, asserting its sovereignty and claiming that the MOU specifies that the management rights of the Strait of Hormuz belong to Iran.

Article 5 of the MOU states that Iran will take its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of merchant vessels and will consult with other littoral states and engage in dialogue with Oman to define future management of the strait and maritime services, in accordance with applicable international law and the sovereignty of the littoral states.

On the other hand, the U.S. rejects Iran's claims, arguing that Iran must guarantee the right of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which is an international waterway, in accordance with international law.

The self-serving interpretations by both countries that emerged immediately after the signing of the MOU eventually led to armed conflict, and both the U.S. and Iran are accusing each other of violating the agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump retaliated militarily against Iran's tanker attack on June 27 and threatened that if the situation worsened, "Iran would no longer exist."

President Pezeshkian's remarks are interpreted as a declaration of a counter-response principle, dismissing President Trump's statements and orders for military action as "irrational bluster" and "baseless threats."

The U.S. and Iran are expected to continue their power struggle amid fundamental disagreements over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mediating countries, including Qatar, are focusing on finding a compromise while worrying about the possibility that subsequent war-ending negotiations between the U.S. and Iran could collapse.

It is observed that if working-level negotiations between the U.S. and Iran resume, compromise measures to implement the opening of the Strait of Hormuz—a prerequisite for the follow-up negotiations specified in the MOU—will be discussed.

(Photo: IRIB Telegram channel capture, Yonhap News)