Tehran, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended the recent peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States, saying Tehran pursued the agreement with “dignity” and “power” while adhering to principles outlined by former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Pezeshkian made the remarks on Sunday at a meeting attended by Education Minister Alireza Kazemi, according to a statement issued by the President’s office.
“We pursued the recent agreement with strength and did not surrender to our enemies,” Pezeshkian said, adding that the MoU was prepared after extensive deliberations and consultations with experts.
The agreement was signed by Iran and the United States on June 18 with the stated objective of ending the conflict in the region.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also described the agreement as evidence of Iran’s “glory and victory” and said it represented a step towards consolidating the country’s diplomatic gains, according to Iran’s official news agency IRNA.
Under the MoU, Iran and the US were expected to hold negotiations over a 60-day period ending Monday with the aim of reaching a final agreement. However, the future of the talks remains uncertain amid renewed tensions between the two countries in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, US Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego has criticised the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran conflict, saying Washington entered the war without a clear plan, exit strategy or defined mission.
Gallego, an Iraq War veteran who served in the US Marine Corps, said the conflict had exposed serious shortcomings in planning and leadership at the Pentagon.
“This administration did not plan for this war. They did not plan how to get out of this war, did not really understand how this war was going to escalate,” the Arizona senator told ABC News on Sunday.
His comments came in response to reports of exhaustion, declining morale and mental health concerns among personnel aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
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