ISLAMABAD – As the first direct talks between Iranian and US officials in years get underway at the Serena Hotel, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a clear message of defiance and diplomacy. In a statement posted on X, the President expressed his full support for the Iranian negotiating team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Pezeshkian noted that the delegation remains “fully committed” to safeguarding the Islamic Republic’s interests during the 15-day ceasefire window.
“I hope our representatives will negotiate courageously,” Pezeshkian stated, adding that “regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, the government will stand by its people.”
The “Islamabad Talks,” brokered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, are being held under a “red alert” security blanket. For Tehran, the stakes include the unfreezing of billions in assets and a permanent halt to hostilities. Pezeshkian’s remarks suggest that while Iran is willing to talk, it will not accept a deal that compromises its sovereignty or domestic stability.
