Iran Offers Reciprocity if US Honors June Peace Deal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek that Iran will immediately reciprocate if the United States returns to its commitments under a June memorandum of understanding. The diplomatic overture follows a renewed escalation on August 30 and September 1, including U.S. strikes on Larak Island and Iranian retaliatory attacks on two U.S. air bases in Jordan.

The conflict began on February 28, 2026, following U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While a 14-point peace framework was brokered in June via Pakistan and Qatar, the agreement collapsed in July after U.S. forces launched strikes on Iran. This led to a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and a counter-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran, which has halted oil exports to China for seven weeks.

On the sidelines of the summit, Pezeshkian met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who pledged continued economic and material support, including the supply of necessary equipment. Pezeshkian also held a low-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussed regional stability with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia and China against arming Iran and vowed to hit Tehran hard, though he characterized recent U.S. strikes as limited. Internally, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei maintained a hardline stance, stating the Resistance Front has lessons to teach the American enemy.