
Will Iran Back its Warm Words with Concrete Action?
Tehran has signaled a readiness to renew its ties with the West.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian declared, “I aim to lay a strong foundation for my country’s entry into a new era, positioning it to play an effective and constructive role in the evolving global order.”
“We seek peace for all and have no intention of conflict with any country,” Pezeshkian emphasized, adding, “Iran opposes war and emphasizes the need for an immediate cessation of military conflict in Ukraine.”
Pezeshkian also indicated a willingness to engage with participants in the 2015 nuclear deal, offering, “We are ready to engage with participants of the 2015 nuclear deal. If the deal’s commitments are implemented fully and in good faith, dialogue on other issues can follow.”
Yet, Pezeshkian was quick to highlight lingering tensions with the United States, particularly over sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy and the 2020 assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike during Donald Trump’s presidency. The 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, followed by reimposed sanctions, has stymied diplomatic efforts.
At a recent campaign event for his 2024 presidential bid, Trump boasted about his support for Israel, including his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to endorse Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. Trump further claimed that ending the Iran nuclear deal was “the best thing” he did for Israel, calling the 2015 agreement “the worst deal ever made for Israel.”
Mike Hanna of Al Jazeera described Pezeshkian’s address at the UN as “moderate,” noting the Iranian president’s call to avoid the further regionalization of conflicts in the Middle East, with a pointed reference to Lebanon and Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. “He implied that he does not want to see any further regionalization of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, making particular reference to what is happening in Lebanon and the root cause of all of that: Israel’s war on Gaza. And he made some strong criticisms of Israel’s actions,” Hanna observed, while underscoring Iran’s conditional openness to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, provided all parties meet their commitments.
In a related development, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed optimism about Iran’s renewed willingness to cooperate with the agency. Grossi, who met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi—one of the architects of the 2015 nuclear accord—on the sidelines of the UN assembly, said, “What I see is an expressed willingness to re-engage with us in a more meaningful fashion.” He plans to visit Tehran in October.
Meanwhile, Pezeshkian issued a stark warning that Israel’s recent strikes in Lebanon “cannot go unanswered” and hinted at a potential escalation in the region. “It is imperative that the international community should immediately stop the violence and bring about a permanent cease-fire in Gaza,” he urged. He condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon, referring to them as “desperate barbarism” that could “engulf the region and the world.”
These comments came just days before Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In a massive bombing raid over Beirut, the Israeli Air Force dropped 80 tons of explosives on Nasrallah’s underground bunker, where he was meeting with high-ranking officials, including Iran’s IRGC Deputy Commander Abbas Nilforoushan. The assassination triggered a wide array of reactions across the globe. While some in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon celebrated, his supporters in Tehran and other predominately Muslim countries were mourning his death.
Israel justified the strike as retaliation for Hezbollah launching over 8,000 rockets at Israel since October 8, a barrage that has killed dozens of civilians, including 12 children playing on a soccer field. Israeli forces have targeted Hezbollah militants and weapons sites throughout Lebanon, resulting in approximately 500 deaths in recent days. The assassination of Nasrallah occurred just over a week after Israel killed senior Hezbollah figures by detonating explosives in their beepers and handheld radios. This tactic also claimed the lives of civilians.
Iran’s role in Lebanon has long been a point of contention. Israel asserts that Iran not only funds Hezbollah but also aims to destabilize its northern border. Suppose Iran is indeed serious about renewing its diplomatic standing. In that case, it will need to distance itself from the activities of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq.
The question remains for the U.S. and its European allies: Can Iran be taken seriously? Demonstrating sincerity will require direct negotiations, not the mediated discussions that collapsed previously. Iran will also need to provide transparency regarding its nuclear ambitions and cease its development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which pose a direct threat to the West.
Only when Iran matches its rhetoric with meaningful action will the West begin to take its overtures seriously.