Iran’s president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his optimism about enhancing relations with European nations, despite accusing them of failing to uphold their commitments to alleviate the impact of US sanctions.
Following his victory in a runoff election against ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili last week, the 69-year-old Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of establishing “constructive relations” with Western countries to alleviate Iran’s isolation. He also advocates for reestablishing the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and global powers.
After the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and the reimposition of sanctions, Iran gradually scaled back its adherence to the deal, which aimed to regulate nuclear activities for peaceful purposes.
In an article published in the Tehran Times newspaper, Pezeshkian criticized European nations for reneging on their commitments to salvage the deal after the US exit. Despite the setbacks, he expressed willingness to engage in meaningful discussions with European countries based on mutual respect and equality.
He urged European countries to set aside their perceived moral superiority and fabricated crises to explore potential areas of collaboration with Iran.
European Union spokesperson Nabila Massrali congratulated Pezeshkian on his election and stated the EU’s readiness to engage with the new government following its policy of critical engagement.
The unexpected death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi led to the July 6 election, where Pezeshkian secured victory with around 54% of the vote, against Jalili’s approximately 44%.
As a heart surgeon with previous government experience as health minister, Pezeshkian is considered a reformist in Iran and was the sole candidate from that camp approved to run in the election by Iran’s Guardian Council.
US must acknowledge reality
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds sway over major policy decisions in the country. The 2015 deal, which saw Iran agreeing to halt its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, unraveled after the US withdrawal.
Pezeshkian emphasized that the US needs to comprehend Iran’s position and acknowledge that pressure tactics are ineffective in dealing with the country.
The signatories of the 2015 agreement viewed it as a crucial mechanism to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons, a stance consistently denied by Tehran.
In his article, Pezeshkian lauded Russia as a strategic ally and expressed eagerness to enhance collaboration with China. He also highlighted Iran’s interest in bolstering ties with Arab neighbors and Turkey to address shared challenges and advance economic cooperation.
