This is from the most recent article published on Tehran Times today, Oct 20, 2026. It's reporting on the meeting yesterday between Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian:
Pezeshkian: Iran does not trust the US
President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his meeting with the Pakistani army chief, recalling the record of US bad faith and breach of promises – attacking our country in the middle of negotiations and martyring the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, scientists and innocent schoolchildren without any legal justification – said: All the problems created in the region, from escalation of tension and conflict to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, all stem from the warmongering nature of the US. All their claims against our country lack legitimacy, because we had proven our goodwill both with regard to negotiations and inspections in the nuclear file within the framework of international laws and regulations.
Emphasizing that the US must first show it will lift threats and sanctions so that conditions for dialogue can be met, Pezeshkian stated: You cannot increase sanctions and pressure day by day and close routes and roads to our country, and then claim you seek dialogue and negotiation. What kind of dialogue is this?
Noting that we know war benefits neither us, nor the region and the world, nor even the US, the President added: It is the US that must answer why it started the war in the first place, entangling itself and the world in problems and difficulties?
Pezeshkian noted: We have been and are ready for dialogue, but the US must first remove threats and sanctions and then we will talk, because if they are truly seeking dialogue and agreement, such behavior is completely in contradiction with their claim and is not logical.
The President, further pointing out that they imposed all these criminal acts on our country and our region under the false claim of nuclear weapons, while they martyred our Leader who had repeatedly stressed the prohibition of nuclear weapons, and drove the region into deadlock, said: They will certainly not achieve their objectives through war and will only bring destruction and damage, not only for Iran but for the entire region; something we do not want to happen.
Stressing that they must prove to our nation that this time they do not want to lie to us, Pezeshkian said: Our nation today does not trust the US and believes that if we negotiate, they will attack us again.
The President added: They constantly propagate in the media that they want to attack our country to frighten our people, while our nation has no fear of martyrdom. You, as our Muslim brothers, must make them understand that this is not how one treats Muslims. We do not want to impose our will on anyone, but we will not submit to coercion.
Field Marshal Asim Munir, in the meeting expressed pleasure at meeting Pezeshkian, presented a report on diplomatic actions and efforts to reduce tensions, and while expressing concern over a renewed outbreak of war, stressed the importance of resolving issues through diplomatic solutions and Pakistan's readiness to help settle matters in this regard.
He, while regretting the non-implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, said: Negotiation never means weakness and acceptance of submission to the US, because the Iranian nation has repeatedly shown its dignity, authority and power to the world; rather it is an opportunity to resolve issues through a path other than war, conflict and insecurity.
