Iran's Pezeshkian Says Talks With US Are 'Meaningless', Accuses Washington of Seeking to Topple Islamic Republic

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that negotiations with the United States were "meaningless," arguing that past rounds of talks were followed by renewed American attacks, Iranian state media reported, according to AFP.

What Pezeshkian said

"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," Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.

"With an enemy that every day resorts to assassination, sanctions, pressure and threats, and that breaks its commitments, negotiations are meaningless," he added.

Talks stuck since June

The war started in late February, when the United States and Israel launched a wave of surprise attacks on Iran while Washington and Tehran were in the midst of nuclear negotiations, AFP reported.

The two sides agreed a memorandum of understanding in June that set out a framework for a permanent settlement. But Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz led to a return of US military operations, and talks have been at an impasse since then. Indirect contacts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month failed to produce a breakthrough.

Washington has not struck Iran since September 1 and has shifted towards economic pressure, according to AFP.

Hormuz stays at the centre

Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Sunday that the waterway would stay shut until Tehran's demands are met. "The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, are met," he was quoted as saying by state media, Reuters reported.

Tension at sea continued on Monday. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) said a tanker in the strait reported being struck by an unknown projectile, causing a fire in the engine room, with no casualties reported. Gulf News said it was the fourth incident reported to UKMTO in 24 hours. Earlier, UKMTO said a tanker turned back near Khasab, Oman, after being "hailed by the IRGC and instructed to turn back or the vessel would be targeted."

Israel and the region react

Israel's ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, accused Tehran of bad faith. "The Iranians have proven time and again that they are negotiating in bad faith. Eventually, they will have to face reality: either come to terms with the United States or face the consequences militarily," he said.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Doha on Monday for talks with Qatari officials, Iranian state media reported.