Iranian President says MoU will guide foreign policy

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Monday, August 3, 2026, that Tehran does not seek to escalate regional tensions but will use all available means to defend its security and interests. This declaration follows a period of renewed hostilities and comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to salvage a faltering peace process between Iran and the United States.

The core of the current diplomatic push is a memorandum of understanding signed by the two nations on June 17, 2026, with Pakistan acting as a mediator. The agreement aimed to end military operations, lift U.S. naval blockades, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping lane. However, the deal collapsed in July after reported breaches at the strait, leading to a new round of airstrikes and regional attacks.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had canceled a planned military strike against Iran. He stated on his Truth Social platform that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had requested a delay to finalize a deal framework, which he said Israel had also joined. Trump emphasized that any agreement must include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Strait of...