Overview

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will return to the ceasefire memorandum with the United States as soon as Washington resumes its obligations, speaking on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek.

“I openly declare that as soon as the United States returns to fulfilling its obligations under the aforementioned memorandum, Iran will immediately respond in kind,” Pezeshkian said, as reported by Sputnik News.

He also told a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State: “It is clear that Iran’s response to the US breach of its obligations has been proportionate. However, I state unequivocally that if the US resumes fulfilling its obligations under the memorandum, Iran will reciprocate without delay,” according to TASS.

Pezeshkian further said that, unlike the US, Iran has “an impeccable track record of complying with its international obligations and treaties and has always acted in accordance with the principles of international law,” TASS reported.

Context

The memorandum of understanding was remotely signed by Tehran and Washington overnight into June 18, providing for an end to the military conflict, according to Sputnik News. However, US forces launched several series of strikes on Iran starting July 8, allegedly in response to Iranian actions against commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, the agency reported. Iranian forces responded with strikes on US bases in the Middle East.

On July 9, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the US and Iran was no longer valid, and on July 12, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until the end of US involvement in the region, Sputnik News reported.

Forbes reported that hostilities resumed along the Strait of Hormuz with the US conducting its first strikes on Iranian forces in a month, a day before Pezeshkian’s latest remarks.

Pezeshkian’s Meeting with Putin

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Pezeshkian said Iran will emerge victorious from the current standoff with the United States, TASS reported. “We are here [at the SCO summit] to fight against unipolarity. We want to break free from the constraints of this unipolar system. I am confident that we will prevail,” he told Putin.

Summit Details

The SCO Summit kicked off on September 1 in Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek with a Council of Heads of State meeting, TASS reported. After the SCO session, a traditional SCO+ meeting was held, bringing together leaders of SCO observer countries, dialogue partners and guests invited by the chair.

Forbes reported that the summit was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. At the summit, Xi said the SCO should “foster an environment of universal security,” and a day earlier, Modi met with Pezeshkian and called for “lasting peace” and resumption of “freedom of navigation and commerce,” according to Forbes.

Iranian Officials’ Remarks

Pezeshkian’s comments partly echoed remarks made by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi a day earlier, Forbes reported. According to Iranian state media, Araghchi said the US must “return to its commitments and adhere to the memorandum’s terms; only then this situation will be resolved.” He insisted that Iran will “stand firm in upholding its rights” against “aggressive US attacks.”

Forbes noted that it is unclear if Iran’s powerful paramilitary, the IRGC, would be willing to agree to the reinstatement of the interim deal.