Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Iran signals openness to reviving nuclear deal with US
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed Tehran's willingness to return to the nuclear memorandum with the United States, welcoming China's diplomatic efforts to resurrect the agreement. The statement comes days after Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that Iran would not capitulate to pressure from Washington.
LSN Malaysia ·
President Pezeshkian's remarks represent a measured shift in Iran's public posture toward nuclear negotiations, though the government maintains it will not compromise on its principles in dealing with the United States. The Iranian leader responded positively to China's call to restore the accord, signalling that Tehran remains open to diplomatic channels despite heightened regional tensions.
The timing of Pezeshkian's comments underscores the delicate balance Iran seeks to maintain between projecting strength at the international forum and keeping diplomatic doors open. At the UN General Assembly, he had emphasised that Tehran would not bend to external pressure, a statement aimed at reassuring domestic constituencies concerned about capitulation.
The nuclear memorandum in question refers to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the multilateral agreement signed in 2015 that placed restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. The agreement unravelled after the United States withdrew in 2018 under the Trump administration, leading Iran to gradually resume nuclear activities prohibited under the accord.
China's mediation efforts reflect Beijing's broader diplomatic push to position itself as a stabilising force in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Iran's positive reception to China's initiative suggests that dialogue remains preferable to continued escalation, even as the nuclear standoff persists and regional security concerns mount.