WANA (Aug 29) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that domestic and international experts unanimously view Iran as the true winner of the Islamabad Understanding, describing the agreement reached within the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) as a major and exceptional achievement.

 

In a televised interview broadcast Friday night, President Pezeshkian addressed a wide range of domestic and foreign policy matters. He began his remarks by honoring the memory of the late Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, alongside all “martyrs” of the Revolution.

 

He highlighted that Iran’s current standing is owed to national unity and cohesion, adding that without such unity, opponents of the country would have achieved their objectives. He urged the nation to cherish and preserve internal solidarity.

 

Islamabad Agreement Based on Consensus

Regarding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, President Pezeshkian explained that key officials—including military commanders, the heads of the judiciary and legislative branches, and cabinet ministers—reached a consensus following thorough expert deliberations.

 

He noted that the Supreme Leader had proposed that approval by three-fourths of the SNSC members would seal the decision. The President revealed that 12 out of the 13 members voted in favor, emphasizing that the understanding was formed through collective wisdom and that political analysts globally agree Iran benefited most from the agreement.

 

U.S. Commitments Under the Agreement

President Pezeshkian detailed that nine clauses of the agreement outline specific commitments by the United States, alongside several joint clauses and one nuclear-focused clause designated for further negotiations.

 

He pointed out that early implementation yielded tangible outcomes: blockades and sanctions were being lifted, the conflict in Lebanon was scheduled to cease and subsequently did, and negotiations were underway to release frozen Iranian assets.

 

Furthermore, Iranian experts were preparing plans for up to $300 billion in foreign investments, and arrangements were being made to normalize traffic through the Strait of Hormuz under Iran’s regulatory framework. However, he noted that the agreement fell apart because the opposing party failed to adhere to those established guidelines.

 

Updated Strategy for the Strait of Hormuz

President Pezeshkian announced that a revised roadmap for managing maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz has been crafted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military officials, and the diplomatic negotiating team, and has received approval from the Supreme Leader.

 

Addressing discussions with Oman, the President explained that after initial cooperation and subsequent reservations, recent talks led to a renewed understanding, with Oman agreeing to the coordinated plan for reopening the route.

 

He stressed that Iran is actively monitoring the situation to ensure that if the maritime passage reopens under the agreed framework, the U.S. fulfills its reciprocal commitments.

 

These obligations include lifting sanctions and blockades, releasing Iranian funds tied to oil and petrochemical sectors, resuming investments, ending military operations in Lebanon, and enforcing Israeli compliance with international boundaries.

 

He reaffirmed that Iran would proceed with opening the Strait of Hormuz strictly in accordance with official state policy.

 

Regional Diplomacy and Relations with Neighbors

In another segment of his address, President Pezeshkian emphasized the necessity of enhancing diplomatic ties with neighboring countries based on the vision of the Supreme Leader, admitting that past efforts in this arena had progressed too slowly.

 

He cited the involvement of Dr. Mohsen Rezaei (Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council) as a key factor in developing a unified approach toward regional neighbors.

 

Describing most neighboring states as fellow Islamic nations, the President stated that Iran must establish common ground through dialogue to guarantee collective regional security, remaining firm on core religious principles while finding compromises on secondary issues.

 

He confirmed ongoing efforts to build stronger ties with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan.

 

Unity as the Core Source of Strength

Warning against external aggression, President Pezeshkian stated that regional stability and unity among Islamic nations are crucial to preventing Israeli military overreach.

 

He emphasized that national strength stems from domestic unity, noting that Iran has successfully weathered severe economic challenges, inflation, and employment issues because of public support. He observed that without internal cohesion, military assets such as missiles are ineffective, pointing out that several nuclear-armed states in history ultimately collapsed due to internal divisions.

 

Consequently, he pledged to avoid divisive rhetoric and focus on shared interests to overcome external pressure imposed by the United States and its allies.

 

Conditional Approach to Future Negotiations

Regarding the trajectory of future negotiations, President Pezeshkian cautioned against taking an absolute, all-or-nothing stance, arguing instead for measured, reciprocal steps to achieve national goals.

 

Referencing historical guidance from Imam Ali (the First Shia Imam) in his letter to Malik al-Ashtar (one of Imam Ali’s most loyal commanders), the President recalled the principle of accepting genuine offers of peace that align with divine guidance, while simultaneously maintaining vigilance against potential surprises from adversaries.

 

He explained that while Iran remains willing to engage in talks, this does not imply complete trust in the opposing parties. He asserted that Iran will honor its signed commitments as long as the other side remains compliant, but warned that any breach by the opposing side would prompt Iran to act strictly according to its own interests.

 

Economic Impact and Domestic Infrastructure

Highlighting outcomes achieved during the validity of the agreement, President Pezeshkian noted that Iran successfully exported nearly 90 million barrels of oil, experienced relief from banking and petrochemical sanctions, and made progress toward unfreezing blocked assets.

 

He added that preliminary talks had taken place with Qatar and the UAE regarding the proposed $300 billion investment package, though active regional conflicts have temporarily halted progress.

 

The President also addressed domestic infrastructure challenges, acknowledging that significant executive energy has been directed toward resolving existing systemic crises.

 

He noted that upon taking office, the administration confronted an electricity deficit of approximately 25,000 megawatts, exacerbated by damaged power facilities and reduced hydroelectric output due to low dam water levels. He assured the public that structural reforms are underway to enhance operational efficiency and effectively manage these energy constraints.