In the wake of ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on Monday, said that engaging in dialogue does not mean surrender.
The president’s remarks came
nearly an hour before United States President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he is holding off a planned military strike on Iran since “serious negotiations” are underway.
Taking to X, Pezeshkian said, “Dialogue does not mean surrender. The Islamic Republic of Iran enters into dialogue with dignity, authority, and the preservation of the nation’s rights, and under no circumstances will it retreat from the legal rights of the people and the country. We will serve the people with logic and with all our might, to the end, and safeguard the interests and honour of Iran.”
گفتوگو به معنای تسلیم نیست. جمهوری اسلامی ایران با عزت، اقتدار و حفظ حقوق ملت وارد گفتوگو میشود و به هیچ عنوان از حقوق قانونی مردم و کشور عقبنشینی نمیکند. ما با منطق و با تمام توان، تا پای جان، در خدمت مردم و حافظ منافع و عزت ایران خواهیم بود.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) May 18, 2026
Trump Holds Off Military Strike On Iran
In his Truth Social post, Trump said that he is holding off on a military strike on Iran, which was planned for Tuesday, amid “serious negotiations”.
The president did not specify the details of the planned attack but stated that he had asked the US military “to be prepared to go forward with a full, large-scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”
He further stated that he took this decision upon receiving requests from the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of the United Arab Emirates.
Also Read:Trump Delays Strikes On Iran After Requests From Qatar, Saudi And UAE Leaders
“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond,” Trump said.
“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN! Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached,” he added.
Trump’s ‘Clock Is Ticking’ Warning Gets Pezeshkian’s ‘Will Talk With Dignity’ Reply
Hours before on Sunday, Trump took to social media to threaten Iran that the clock was ticking for Iran to either finalise a deal or again engage in fighting once the fragile ceasefire falls.
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Also Read: ‘Clock Is Ticking’: If Iran Ignores Trump’s Deadline, What Military Options Does US Have?
The remarks of the US president came after Iranian media revealed the core conditions of Washington for resuming negotiations, which included surrendering 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, keeping just one nuclear facility active, keeping most frozen Iranian assets blocked, not demanding war compensation, and ending war on all fronts after negotiations are completed.
In reply to Trump’s warning, Pezeshkian said that conducting dialogue “with dignity” is necessary and stressed that Iran will continue to defend its national rights.
Speaking at a public relations gathering of executive agencies titled “Iranian Narrators”, Pezeshkian said, “It is not logical to say that we will not negotiate. They chant that we shouldn’t engage in dialogue–what should we do if we don’t talk? Fight until the bitter end? It’s not logical to say we won’t engage in dialogue; we engage in dialogue with dignity.”
He added that Iran can defend its interests during any diplomatic engagements. “We are capable of defending the nation’s rights with the backing of the people. We must speak logically and receive logical responses,” the president said.
“We must try not to break the unity and cohesion in the country. What can we do if they are shouting, ‘Let’s not talk,’ if we don’t talk? Should we fight until the end? We will talk with dignity,” he added.
The negotiations between the United States and Iran remain deadlocked over uranium stockpiles, sanctions relief and war compensation after months of conflict across West Asia.
With inputs from ANI
