Pezeshkian: Iran has never shunned dialogue with the US, even though it was attacked three times during negotiations

Iran has “never shunned” dialogue with the United States and will continue to seek it, even though it was attacked three times during negotiations, President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting. At a meeting with businesspeople, Pezeshkian said the government “is seriously seeking to solve all issues and problems related to the business sector,” the semi-official Tasnim agency reported.

“We have never shunned dialogue and we will not do so, even though the United States attacked our country three times. There is good coordination and synergy among the heads of state and everyone is seeking to solve the problems and shortcomings,” he was quoted as saying.

Pezeshkian added that, despite “restrictions at sea,” Iran is trying to expand import-export routes overland with Pakistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan — a sign that Tehran is preparing for a long period of economic pressure, even as it continues diplomatic efforts to end the war.

The statement comes at a moment when Qatari mediators are conveying proposals between the two sides and when the Iranian Cabinet is reviewing the latest US counterproposal on Hormuz and sanctions, as USA Today reports.