Iran Seeks US Deal, Not War as Pezeshkian Pushes Diplomacy
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran does not seek war with the United States and remains willing to negotiate an agreement with Washington, as diplomatic efforts continue in New York over ending the conflict and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Pezeshkian rejected the suggestion that Iran was choosing continued conflict over diplomacy, saying the war had been imposed on his country and that Tehran wanted negotiations instead.
Pezeshkian said Iran remained prepared to move forward on the basis of an earlier understanding reached with US President Donald Trump, referring to a June memorandum that envisaged negotiations towards a final peace agreement.
He placed responsibility on Washington for deciding whether the conflict should end. Reuters separately confirmed that Pezeshkian said it was up to the United States to choose when the war ends.
Iran and US Remain Far Apart
Despite Pezeshkian’s conciliatory language, there is no indication that a final settlement is imminent.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters this week that the two countries remained far apart on the terms for ending the conflict, although Tehran believed diplomacy should continue.
US-Iran contacts resumed in New York this week through intermediaries, with Qatar playing a role in the diplomatic process.
Trump said on September 22 that negotiations with Iran were continuing and expressed confidence that an eventual settlement could be reached. However, Washington continues to insist that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
The US president had also used significantly tougher language in his UN General Assembly address, while calling for Iran’s economic isolation if an agreement could not be reached.
The combination of negotiations and public threats illustrates the substantial differences that remain between Washington and Tehran.
Iran Offers Hormuz Reopening Plan
Iran has also presented a proposal linking an end to hostilities with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had conveyed a proposal to Washington through intermediaries under which hostilities on multiple fronts would end and the strait would reopen if Iran’s conditions were met.
According to Araghchi, the proposal calls for the United States to lift its blockade on Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian funds and waive oil sanctions. The Strait of Hormuz would then reopen on the final day of a seven-day process, followed by negotiations on other issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
Reuters had earlier reported that Iran was prepared to reopen Hormuz within a week if Washington reduced military pressure and lifted the blockade on Iranian ports.
The proposal remains an Iranian negotiating position, not an agreed US-Iran settlement.
Pezeshkian Rejects Nuclear Bomb Ambition
Iran’s nuclear programme remains another central obstacle.
Asked whether Tehran wanted a nuclear weapon, Pezeshkian rejected that objective and said Iran would comply with its obligations under international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran’s statements about its nuclear intentions represent Tehran’s position. The United States and other governments have continued to raise concerns over Iran’s enrichment programme and its ability to move towards weapons-grade material.
The issue of Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% is expected to remain central to any broader negotiations.
Pezeshkian’s comments therefore signal willingness to negotiate but do not resolve the substantive differences between the two governments.
Hormuz Remains Partially Disrupted
The diplomatic negotiations are closely watched because of the impact of the conflict on international energy supplies.
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz handled around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply, according to reporting based on shipping data.
Preliminary Kpler tracking data showed 33.7 million barrels of crude had moved through Hormuz so far in the week beginning September 20. Nineteen tankers were recorded carrying crude, most of it from Saudi Arabia followed by Iraq.
However, shipping activity remains far below normal pre-war levels. Before hostilities began on February 28, roughly 125 large commercial vessels typically used the waterway each day.
The possibility of a diplomatic agreement and a broader reopening of Hormuz has therefore become a major factor for global oil markets.
Tehran Distances Itself From Houthi Actions
Pezeshkian also sought to distance Iran from the recent escalation involving Yemen’s Houthis.
He said the Houthis were responsible for their own actions and denied that Tehran directly dictated their operations.
The statement comes after intensified Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, which have increased regional tensions and prompted Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye to hold consultations under their Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Iran has longstanding political and military links with the Houthis, but the extent of Tehran’s operational control over the Yemeni group remains contested. The Iranian government denies directing Houthi attacks, while other governments and regional sources have alleged substantial Iranian support and influence.
Diplomacy Continues, But No Breakthrough Yet
The immediate picture is therefore one of active diplomacy without a final breakthrough.
Pezeshkian says Iran wants an agreement rather than continued war. Tehran has put forward conditions for ending hostilities and reopening Hormuz, while Washington has publicly maintained that negotiations are continuing.
At the same time, significant disagreements remain over sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme, military pressure and the terms for restoring unrestricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
For publication, the key distinction is that Iran has expressed willingness to reach a deal and presented proposals, but the United States and Iran have not yet reached a final peace agreement.
