Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has described negotiations with the United States as “meaningless”, accusing Washington of repeatedly returning to military action after talks.
Pezeshkian made the comments on Monday, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, as efforts to reach a lasting settlement to the Middle East war remain stalled.
“So far, they have attacked us three times after talks, and this shows that they are not seeking dialogue; rather, their goal is to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
He accused the US of combining military pressure with sanctions, threats and what he described as assassination attempts, arguing that Washington had repeatedly failed to honour its commitments.
“With an enemy that every day resorts to assassination, sanctions, pressure and threats, and that breaks its commitments, negotiations are meaningless,” Pezeshkian said.
The conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran while Washington and Tehran were negotiating over Iran’s nuclear programme.
A memorandum of understanding reached in June established a framework for a permanent settlement, but the arrangement later unravelled after Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz triggered a resumption of US military operations.
Indirect talks held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly also failed to produce a breakthrough, leaving negotiations effectively deadlocked.
Washington has since reduced its military operations and shifted towards economic pressure. It has not carried out a strike on Iran since September 1.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that the conflict could not be resolved through military action, while warning that Tehran would respond more forcefully if attacks resumed.
“There is no military solution, nor any solution based on new sanctions,” Araghchi said, arguing that only negotiations based on “justice and fairness” could end the conflict.
The United States and Israel have maintained that their military campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, an ambition Tehran has repeatedly denied.
The focus of the conflict, however, has increasingly centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route whose closure has disrupted global energy markets.
Iran has sought to control access through the waterway since the war began, attacking vessels attempting to pass without its authorisation.
The US has responded with a counterblockade of Iranian ports and has also targeted vessels it accuses of violating the restrictions.
The British maritime agency UKMTO said a tanker was struck while attempting to transit the waterway on Sunday, while another vessel turned back on Monday after Iranian forces threatened to attack it.
