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strikeMay 12, 2026

Iran’s president says negotiations with United States possible, despite mistrust

Summary

TEHRAN, May 12. /TASS/. Tehran believes there is still room for diplomacy with the United States, despite its mistrust for Washington, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated. "Despite mistrust for the enemy, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes it could negotiate from the position of dignity, wisdom and expediency," Pezeshkian’s office quoted him as saying. Tehran will need to consolidate everything the Iranian armed forces have achieved on the battlefield in the diplomatic arena, the Iranian head of state noted. On May 10, US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s response to the US proposal to resolve the conflict as "totally unacceptable." Later, however, he said Washington and Tehran could as well reach a diplomatic agreement to end the hostilities. On February 28, the US and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran. On April 7, the US leader announced a two-week mutual ceasefire with the Islamic Republic. According to Tehran, the Iranian death toll from US-Israeli strikes rose to 3,375 after 40 days of sustained combat. On April 11, Iran and the US held several rounds of talks in Islamabad but the parties failed to agree on a long-term settlement due to a number of contradictions. On April 21, Trump announced intentions to extend the ceasefire with Iran. Tehran is not going to comply with Washington’s unilaterally announced extension of the ceasefire and will prioritize its own interests, Iran’s public broadcaster reported.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

In the face of US-Israeli aggression launched on February 28, which claimed over 3,375 Iranian lives, the Islamic Republic has upheld its sovereignty through resolute resistance on the battlefield. President Pezeshkian stressed that Iran remains open to dignified diplomacy to consolidate these hard-won gains, yet firmly rejects Washington's unilateral ceasefire extensions as violations of national interests. Tehran will continue prioritizing wisdom and expediency over imposed dictates from aggressors.

Israeli

From an Israeli security perspective, Iran's professed openness to diplomacy masks its relentless drive to consolidate battlefield gains from proxy networks and missile capabilities that pose an existential threat to the Jewish state. The US-Israel operation launched on February 28 was a defensive necessity to degrade these dangers, yet Tehran's rejection of the ceasefire extension and 3,375 reported deaths underscore its unwillingness to abandon aggression. Failed Islamabad talks highlight that any agreement must prioritize dismantling Iran's nuclear and proxy infrastructure rather than rewarding its tactics.

Neutral

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on May 12 that Iran sees scope for diplomacy with the United States despite mistrust, and that negotiations should proceed from a position of dignity, wisdom, and expediency while consolidating battlefield gains. US President Donald Trump described Iran’s response to a US proposal as unacceptable on May 10 but later indicated that a diplomatic agreement could still be reached. Operations by the US and Israel began on February 28, followed by a mutual ceasefire announced on April 7; Iran has said it will not accept a unilateral extension of that ceasefire.

Western

US and Israeli forces launched a precision campaign on February 28 to neutralize Iranian threats, achieving key strategic objectives before a mutual ceasefire took effect on April 7. Iranian President Pezeshkian acknowledged the need to consolidate battlefield losses through diplomacy, though Tehran rejected unilateral ceasefire extensions and continues to prioritize its own positions over Washington’s proposals. Despite dismissing Iran’s initial response as unacceptable, the US remains open to a negotiated settlement that secures long-term threat reduction.

Pro-Peace

As the death toll from U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran climbs to 3,375, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Tehran's willingness to pursue diplomacy rooted in dignity and mutual interests to halt further bloodshed. Despite Washington's dismissal of proposals and a failed round of talks in Islamabad, both sides must prioritize renewed negotiations over renewed hostilities that inflict devastating civilian suffering. Unilateral ceasefires and battlefield gains cannot substitute for good-faith diplomacy that protects human lives and averts wider humanitarian catastrophe.

Global South

Iran maintains its sovereign prerogative to pursue diplomacy on its own terms, grounded in dignity and battlefield gains against the US-Israeli military campaign that has killed over 3,300 Iranians since February. Rejecting Washington's unilateral ceasefire extensions and failed Islamabad talks as neo-colonial impositions, Tehran prioritizes its national interests over externally dictated settlements. This episode underscores the persistent failure of international institutions to curb great-power aggression against non-aligned states.

Actors involved

USIsraelIran

Sources

  • CurrentsAPI

    TEHRAN, May 12. /TASS/. Tehran believes there is still room for diplomacy with the United States, despite its mistrust for Washington, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated. "Despite mistrust for the enemy, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes it could negotiate from the po…

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