Iran Says It Remains Open to U.S. Deal as Pressure Grows to End War

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains open to negotiations with Washington but argued that the United States must decide whether to end the prolonged conflict.

“We did not choose war, the war was imposed on us,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with Fox News. He warned that Iran would respond “strongly” if attacks continued, while saying disputes should be resolved through diplomacy. Pezeshkian said Iran still wanted to move forward with a memorandum of understanding signed with the United States in June that later collapsed. He also denied President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran was delaying an agreement until after the U.S. midterm elections.

The Iranian leader rejected allegations that Tehran seeks nuclear weapons and accused Washington of trying to destabilize Iran. He also distanced Iran from renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying the group was responsible for its own actions and that Iran was not at war with the kingdom.

Saudi authorities said the Houthis launched dozens of missiles and drones at Saudi targets Friday, including six ballistic missiles that were intercepted. China, meanwhile, renewed efforts to encourage de-escalation as indirect U.S.-Iran talks resumed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., called U.S. military operations “triply illegal,” noting the House’s passage of three Iran war powers resolutions. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also called for “a resolution” to the conflict.