This is one outlet's own report from The Straits Times — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportThe Straits Times · 4h ago
Iran president offers US olive branch before Putin meeting
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s remarks came as the Strait of Hormuz remained a key point of contention between Iran and the United States
Listen Summarise Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian promises to reciprocate any US return to the June deal aimed at ending hostilities between Tehran and Washington. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key conflict point, with Iran insisting on US commitment to reopen the waterway as per the June agreement. At the SCO summit, Russia and China strengthen ties amid global tensions, while Moscow deepens military and economic relations with Iran despite US warnings. AI generated
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sept 1 vowed to match any US 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 US 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.
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 Aug 31 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 Aug 31 , Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also urged the US 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.
Putin met Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Aug 31 at the SCO summit, which is also playing host to leaders of countries including Turkey, India and Pakistan.
The summit takes place 4 ½ 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 US 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. AFP
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
