Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended the country’s memorandum of understanding with the United States, describing it as a possible path toward ending the war and easing Iran’s worsening economic crisis.
Pezeshkian said the 14-point memorandum, signed in June as a framework for ending the conflict and opening broader negotiations, does not amount to Iran surrendering to the United States. Instead, he argued that implementing the agreement could reduce the risks driving investment and capital away from the country.
The Iranian president’s position comes as the country faces severe economic pressure from the war and intensified US sanctions. He has acknowledged that Iranians are experiencing significant difficulties, while maintaining that his government is working to keep essential services and supplies functioning.
Pezeshkian has argued that Iran needs to eventually move beyond the conflict and focus on economic recovery. His comments reflect growing concern within Iran’s leadership that prolonged fighting and sanctions are worsening inflation, weakening the currency and placing additional pressure on households.
The memorandum was intended to provide a framework for stopping the fighting, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing sanctions and restarting negotiations on broader issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, implementation has faced significant obstacles. Hard-line elements within Iran remain deeply suspicious of Washington and have pushed for continued military preparedness. Recent reporting has also indicated divisions within Iran’s leadership over whether diplomacy or continued confrontation offers the better path forward.
Pezeshkian nevertheless appears to be arguing that accepting the memorandum does not mean abandoning Iran’s interests. Rather, he presents it as a way for Tehran to reduce the economic damage caused by the conflict while negotiating from a position it considers strong.
His comments also come amid increasing pressure on the Iranian government to address the country’s deteriorating economy. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has similarly stressed that military strength alone cannot guarantee national security if the economy continues to deteriorate.
The memorandum therefore remains a major point of debate inside Iran. Supporters see it as an opportunity to stop the war and restore economic stability, while hard-liners fear that concessions to Washington could weaken Iran strategically.
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