Iran peace talks will only succeed without pressure and threats, says Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Iran peace talks will only succeed without "pressure and threats". Speaking at the Commonwealth of Independent States summit in Turkmenistan, he said negotiations held under force amount to coercion, as the months-long Middle East war remains in a stalemate.

What is the status of the Iran-US peace talks?

Talks between Iran and the United States have been at an impasse since US military operations resumed after the June memorandum of understanding. Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz prompted that resumption, and recent indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly produced no breakthrough.

The two sides agreed the memorandum in June, and it spelled out a framework for a permanent resolution to the conflict. Washington has since dialed back military operations in favor of economic pressure. It has not struck Iran since September 1.

What did Pezeshkian say about negotiations?

"Dialogue holds meaning and a chance of success only when based on mutual respect and mutual commitments, and when devoid of pressure and threat," he said during his speech at the CIS summit. He added that "negotiation conducted in the shadow of force is not negotiation, it is imposition and coercion."

Pezeshkian also warned that sanctions on Iran would affect "regional trade, connectivity, energy, and order." His comments came after he said on Monday that talks with the United States to end the war were worthless and had only resulted in renewed attacks.

"With an enemy that everyday resorts to assassination, sanctions, pressure and threats, and that breaks its commitments, negotiations are meaningless," he said.

Why did the war between Iran, the US and Israel start?

The war began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran. At the time, Washington and Tehran were locked in negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

The United States and Israel have said the war is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Tehran has long denied pursuing them.

What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?

The focus has shifted to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Iran has sought to impose its control over the vital shipping lane since the start of the war. It has struck vessels that attempt to transit without its authorization.

The United States has imposed its own counterblockade of Iranian ports. It has also struck vessels it accuses of violating that blockade.