Iran desk

Mohsen Rezaei interview

6 September 2026English translation

Rezaei says the Islamabad memorandum failed because intermediaries could not restrain Washington, and that Iran will only resume talks under enforceable guarantees — including a new Iran-managed corridor in waters shared with Oman.

On failed guarantees from intermediaries
“We trusted intermediaries in Pakistan, Qatar, and Oman to guarantee the agreement, but in practice they could not provide guarantees — diplomacy without enforceable guarantees does not work.”
On historic U.S. untrustworthiness
“Since the United States entered Iranian affairs after the coup against Mossadegh, they have never honored their commitments and have always acted against our nation — we have the right to distrust the U.S.”
On exercising Iran’s right to respond militarily
“When the Americans attacked a wedding and spilled the blood of our brothers and sisters, we reserved the right to respond — we struck U.S. positions we had identified and the ten-day war the president announced ended in one day.”
On asserting control over maritime passage
“We have established an internationally agreed corridor in the shared waters with Oman for entering and exiting the Persian Gulf, and Iran manages that corridor — this will be another form of guarantee.”
On political unity and tolerance
“The best response to the enemy's attempts to sow division is mutual tolerance among our politicians — those who call for unity and those who call for standing by our values must come together.”