Iran's president said Tuesday that Tehran is prepared to return to the terms of the nuclear memorandum of understanding as soon as Washington resumes its commitments under the agreement, according to CNN Arabic.
Speaking in remarks reported by the outlet, the Iranian leader said his government is open to a deal with the United States and that continued conflict is not in Iran's interest. He stressed that Iran would honor a ceasefire arrangement if the United States does the same, per CNN Arabic and Al Arabiya.
The comments come amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Iranian state media outlet Tasnim reported that Tehran would respond to any American attacks with retaliation several times over, according to the Saudi news outlet Ajel. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that international efforts are underway to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, and that Iran has asserted its military readiness.
The president's remarks signal a possible diplomatic opening, but they are conditional. Iran's willingness to return to the memorandum depends entirely on Washington first restoring its own obligations under the accord. The United States has not publicly responded to the latest statement as of this writing.
The nuclear understanding in question refers to the broader framework that has been at the center of US-Iran tensions in recent years. The exact status of that agreement, and which party is seen as having abandoned it, remains a point of contention between the two governments.
What to watch next is whether Washington issues any official response to Tehran's conditional offer, and whether international efforts to de-escalate around the Strait of Hormuz gain momentum in the coming days.
