According to Iran’s reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, there is a renewed willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with western nations. He also denied allegations that his country had supplied ballistic missiles to Russia since he took office seven weeks ago. During his first press conference with local and foreign media, Pezeshkian defended the strong ties between Iran and Russia, stating that Russia provided crucial support when the Islamic republic was struggling under western-imposed sanctions. While acknowledging that military exchanges may have occurred in the past, he emphasized that sending ballistic missiles to Russia has not happened since he assumed office.
The US, UK, Germany, and France have accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine. As a result of these allegations, a new round of sanctions against Tehran has been announced. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last week that Russia is expected to deploy these new missiles within weeks. The maximum range of these missiles is 75 miles (120km), which would provide Moscow with additional capability and flexibility in targeting deeper areas within Ukraine.
Pezeshkian expressed his government’s commitment to seeking peace rather than war globally and expressed readiness for talks regarding Iran’s nuclear programs similar to the 2015 accord signed with world powers. He mentioned that if other parties are committed to the agreement, Iran will be as well but will not bow down to pressure or seek nuclear arms.
However, Western diplomats believe that Iran’s military cooperation with Russia in its conflict with Ukraine reduces the likelihood of reaching a new nuclear agreement. Additionally, tensions between Iran and Israel have further complicated efforts towards signing a fresh nuclear agreement compared to 2015.
Pezeshkian plans on delivering his first address at the UN General Assembly this month where he is expected to criticize Israel over the Gaza war while exploring possibilities for renewed negotiations with Western nations.
