Defunct MoU Has A Key Iranian Backer. Pezeshkian Floats ‘Neither War Nor Peace’ Scenario.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian is sending out signals that the Islamic Republic is not averse to the idea of lasting peace.

The top Iranian leader has come out in defense of the recent memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran. Pezeshkian has termed the memorandum of understanding as the best way for the war-ravaged country to move beyond the scenario, which he described as “neither war nor peace,” the Associated Press reported.

“There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying in a speech published by state-run IRNA early on Sunday. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path,” the Iranian president said.

The US and Iran had agreed on a deal in June to pave the way for an end to the conflict. The broader terms of a peace deal were to be chalked out in 60 days. The 60-day period has ended but there has been no significant progress in backchannel negotiations as the US and Iran could not agree on the management of the contentious Strait of Hormuz. A fifth of the world’s energy cargoes moved through the waterway before the conflict, but Iran shut it after the ceasefire collapsed. This led to a surge in oil prices, which at one time hit $120 a barrel, stoking inflationary concerns worldwide.

Iran has made known its intentions to charge a fee to ensure seamless passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

This prompted the Donald Trump-led US administration to enforce a naval blockade of Iran, leaving little room for mediators to bring back the warring sides again to the negotiating table.

Pezeshkian also vaguely acknowledged about the economic hardships caused by the Middle East conflict, which began following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

The Iranian president said the Islamic Republic couldn’t attract investment in this stalled phase.

A section of the moderates in the Iranian political establishment is of the view that this is the opportune time to hold talks to end the war, an approach that is starkly opposite to the defiant posture adopted by hardliners in the Iranian establishment. Hardliners in Iran are in favor of prolonging the war, according to international media reports.

The conflict, which is entering its sixth month, isn’t showing any signs of ending in the near future, but back channel diplomacy is on even as economic misery is mounting for ordinary Iranians.

Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir will visit Tehran with an official on Monday, according to a report by Iranian state television, quoting Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei.

The AP report said the visit was part of Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran.