Iran entered talks with seriousness, outcome depends on US approach: Pezeshkian

President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has entered the talks with the United States in Islamabad with "determination and seriousness," stressing that the success of the process depends on Washington's approach.

He made the remarks during a phone call with his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron, on Saturday, his office said in a statement. 

Underlining the importance of the US attitude towards the process to its success, President Pezeshkian reminded how it was Washington's previous instances of betraying diplomatic engagements with Tehran by subjecting the Islamic Republic to military aggression that scuttled the negotiations.

The comments came as an Iranian delegation is engaged in negotiations with the American side in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The talks got underway after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week lull in the United States' latest bout of unlawful strikes against the Islamic Republic.

Trump's announcement followed at least 99 waves of successful and decisive Iranian reprisal against sensitive and strategic American targets across the region.

The Islamic Republic insists that, as part of a 10-point ceasefire proposal that Trump has referred to as a "workable basis on which to negotiate and the main framework for these talks," aggression has to stop on all fronts, including against Lebanon.

The Iranian president identified the Israeli regime’s attacks on Lebanon that have claimed the lives of hundreds of people since Wednesday as the main source of tension, stating that the deadly strikes "are clear examples of war crimes." He stressed the need to exert pressure on both the regime and the United States to bring about a halt to the attacks.

'Iran against war, but resolute in defense'

Pezeshkian went on to underline that the Islamic Republic had never sought either tension or war and had always emphasized resolving issues through dialogue based on international law.

However, "we have no hesitation in defending our legitimate rights and the territorial integrity of our country," he stated.

In the same context, Pezeshkian described Iran's missile program as a key element of its defensive capability, apparently reiterating the Islamic Republic's categorical rejection of calls by adversaries and their allies for the country to put the issue up for negotiation.

Concluding his remarks, the president criticized the inaction exhibited by international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union, regarding the enemies' unlawful attacks against the country and the Israeli regime's brutal aggression towards the people of the region.

For his part, Macron said his country had officially and clearly condemned the unprovoked aggression from the very beginning and now welcomed the two-week ceasefire.

The French head of state also stressed the need for a halt to attacks on Lebanon, besides expressing hope that the Islamabad negotiations would yield progress and saying Paris was ready to contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

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