Iranian President says negotiating with US does not mean surrender

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday (19/8) that negotiating with the United States does not mean surrendering.

Speaking at a conference in Tehran, Pezeshkian stressed the need to maintain Iran’s territorial integrity, according to a statement posted on the presidential office’s website.

“In the negotiation process, we move forward step by step with full strength while maintaining wisdom, dignity and the national interest,” Pezeshkian said.

“Our goal is to end the war, lift the blockade (the anti-Iran naval blockade), free the country’s frozen assets, and then hold nuclear talks,” he said.

US President Donald Trump reportedly instructed his administration’s key envoys to halt talks with Iran on Tuesday (18/8), according to local media reports citing a US official.

On Wednesday, Trump announced a “devastating economic operation” against Iran, hours after saying the situation with Iran was “very good”.

Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war on all fronts on 18 June 2026.

However, it remains unclear how talks will proceed after the 60-day negotiation period under the MoU ended on Monday (17/8) and tensions between the two sides escalated last month.