Iran’s President: US Deal is ‘Best Path’ Out of Stalled War

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a recent agreement with the United States as the country’s best way out of a war that has reached a deadlock. He described the current situation as “neither war nor peace.” In a speech published by state media on Sunday, Pezeshkian said the Memorandum of Understanding signed by US President Donald Trump in June is the best possible deal for Iran. He said members of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council agreed. “There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.” The deal set a 60-day deadline for ending the war and reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. That period ended last week, but the two sides remain far apart. A key issue is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipping. Pezeshkian also linked the agreement to Iran’s economy. He said the country cannot attract investment during this stalled phase. “Capital and money are extremely sensitive to risk,” he said. “We have to remove this risk from the country.” Iran’s economy is struggling under sanctions and a naval blockade that has made it very difficult to export oil. The war with the United States and Israel is now nearly six months old. In a separate development, Iran’s new security chief warned neighboring countries against supporting US efforts to increase economic pressure on Tehran. Mohsen Rezaei, who was named head of the Supreme National Security Council this month, said Iran would retaliate in a “seismic manner” if neighbors join what he called an economic war against Iran. In an interview with state television, he said Iran would target oil-shipping routes in the Persian Gulf that serve as alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. “If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” Rezaei said. Trump has vowed to increase Iran’s isolation with an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare. In the West Bank, a 61-year-old Palestinian man said he was beaten by an Israeli settler outside his home. Saeed Muhammad Ibrahim Rabah told the Associated Press that two settlers arrived with a tractor on Saturday. One of them struck him on the back with a pipe. Rabah lost a leg in April 2025 after being shot by a settler. He said the attacks are attempts “to provoke us so that we leave our land, leave our home and move away.” Separately, Israel’s military said it is pursuing a suspect in a stabbing attack that injured a 24-year-old near Jericho. The victim was taken to a hospital in moderate condition. Violence in the West Bank has increased. Palestinian officials say at least 87 Palestinians have been killed in almost 1,500 attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year. Three Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in 2026.