Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran will respond in kind if the United States honors its side of a temporary agreement signed in June. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, Pezeshkian made the remarks following the first direct exchange of attacks between the two countries since late July. The U.S. had targeted Larak Island, and Iran retaliated by launching attacks on two American air bases in Jordan.
"I am stating clearly that if the U.S. returns to its commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate," Pezeshkian said, as reported by Reuters via Iranian state media.
Tehran has tied free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to Washington's compliance with the deal. Pezeshkian also stressed that war serves no one's interests and that Iran remains open to a negotiated solution with the U.S.
US Tightens Economic Grip on Iran
The comments come as Iran admits U.S. sanctions are causing significant economic pain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Iran's economy could collapse "within weeks or months" due to intensified sanctions. The U.S. strategy appears aimed at forcing Tehran to change course rather than triggering an economic implosion. Bessent's remarks expand on Treasury's "Operation Economic Outcast," launched August 24 to disrupt Iran's financial, oil, shipping, and trade networks. He said the U.S. expects to impose new secondary sanctions about weekly, starting with banks.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran but warned of a forceful response to Tehran's retaliatory strikes on American forces in Jordan. Trump said Iran had already suffered a decisive military defeat, asserting that the country was "totally defeated militarily."
At the time of writing, Brent crude futures for October were up 4.64% at $92.47 per barrel, while WTI crude futures for October were up 2.88% at $88.24 per barrel.
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