Pezeshkian vows talks with US 'not surrender' but defense of national interests
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that any negotiation with the United States is neither surrender nor retreat, but rather a determined effort to secure the nation's rights and unequivocally defend national interests.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, Pezeshkian vowed that Iran would never back down from its legitimate rights.
"We will never bow before the enemy," the Iranian president said.
"If there is any talk of dialogue or negotiation, it does not mean surrender or backing down, but rather the goal is to secure the rights of the Iranian nation and powerfully defend national interests," he emphasized.
We will never bow down to the enemy, and if any talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat. Rather, the goal is to secure the rights of the Iranian nation and to defend national interests with strength.
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) May 10, 2026
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pic.twitter.com/66kgmITMsl
The comment came shortly after state media reported that Iran has officially submitted its response to the latest US proposal to end the war of aggression against the country, which began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Iran's official IRNA news agency said the response has made it clear that any negotiations between Iran and the US should solely focus on efforts to end the war at this stage, and that other issues, including Iran's nuclear program, should be discussed later on.
The security of shipping in the Persian Gulf is another matter presented in Iran's response, which was delivered Sunday to Pakistan, a mediator in talks that also brokered a ceasefire on April 8.
Negotiations ensued in Islamabad but stopped short of an agreement due to Washington's maximalist demands and insistence on unreasonable positions.
Since then, Iran has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lifts an illegal blockade it has imposed on Iranian vessels and ports.
Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade is still in place, it has no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to launching 100 waves of retaliatory operations against US and Israeli assets in the region, Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping associated with the aggressors and their allies, sending oil prices soaring.
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