TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday urged US President Donald Trump to avoid creating further turmoil, saying disputes between Tehran and Washington could be resolved through dialogue and implementation of their June memorandum of understanding.“If we proceed through dialogue and on the basis of the memorandum of understanding, we will resolve the problems and secure our rights,” Pezeshkian said during a ceremony in Tehran, according to Mehr News Agency.“It is in the interest of the country, the region and the world that Trump does not create turmoil and that Israel does not cause insecurity and aggression,” he added.Pezeshkian said Iran did not seek war but would respond firmly to any attack.“We do not like war, but we will stand with strength against aggression and defend ourselves,” he said, adding that no power could force a united nation determined to defend its territory to surrender.The Iranian president said Tehran remained committed to resolving disputes through dialogue but stressed that the Iranian people, government officials and military commanders would “never surrender” in the face of threats or aggression.He also accused Israel of seeking to create divisions among Muslim countries, arguing that greater unity among Islamic nations could counter such efforts.Turning to domestic issues, Pezeshkian said maintaining industrial production during the coming winter was a “red line,” stressing that gas, electricity and water supplies to production facilities should not be disrupted.He said the government would manage consumption of water, electricity, gas and fuel and that, if restrictions became necessary, they would first be imposed on government offices and public buildings rather than households.Pezeshkian called on Iranians to cooperate with the government to maintain stability, saying the country’s adversaries should not expect pressure to force Tehran into surrender.The US-Israeli war against Iran began on Feb. 28 with attacks on military, nuclear and infrastructure sites. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel and across the region.Iran and the US reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding in June, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, aimed at ending hostilities and opening a 60-day window for negotiations toward a broader agreement.The memorandum also addressed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the US naval blockade, sanctions and frozen Iranian assets.Tehran has maintained that further progress in negotiations depends on Washington fulfilling its commitments under the memorandum. Iranian officials have also said the Strait of Hormuz will not fully reopen until those obligations are implemented.
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