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But look at the situation for where it is.” Pezeshkian accused Western powers of double standards by saying that violence “by one side is legitimate self-defense but it’s terrorism and murder by the other.” The Zionist entity has scoffed at talk of reformists within the Iranian system and US officials, while willing to speak with Tehran indirectly, have played down Pezeshkian’s influence, saying that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ultimately makes key decisions. Pezeshkian called for talks with the West on Russia after US intelligence said that Iran was supplying ballistic missiles to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

“We are willing to sit down with the Europeans and the Americans to have a dialogue and negotiations. We have never approved of Russian aggression against Ukrainian territory,” Pezeshkian said, again denying the missile shipments. Ukraine, which enjoys sympathy from much of the Iranian public, has threatened to sever relations with Tehran over the missiles issue. Western powers have hit Iran with a new round of sanctions, including targeting air agreements, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying the missiles contradict Pezeshkian’s calls for better relations.

Pezeshkian also made a new appeal Monday for the restoration of a 2015 nuclear deal which was scrapped by former US president Donald Trump. President Joe Biden took office saying he would restore the agreement but talks failed, due in part to disagreement over the extent of sanctions relief. Any high-level US diplomacy with Pezeshkian is highly unlikely ahead of the US presidential election in November, with Iran toxic in US politics and Tehran unwilling to make concessions before knowing the next administration’s policies. —AFP