Iranian President: US compliance will instantly revive Islamabad Memorandum

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday that if the United States simultaneously resumes compliance with the Islamabad Memorandum signed in June in Islamabad, Pakistan, Iran is also willing to immediately return to the memorandum’s implementation track. The statement comes against a backdrop of renewed escalation in armed clashes between the two countries, with multiple exchanges of fire and missile alerts in the past two weeks.

The Islamabad Memorandum was signed in June 2023 after Iranian and U.S. diplomats met in Islamabad, aiming to ease tensions that had risen since 2022 over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions and regional proxy wars. The memorandum mainly included U.S. suspension of a new round of sanctions, Iran’s cessation of direct support to U.S. bases and its allies, and the establishment of a crisis‑communication hotline to prevent miscalculation and escalation. In the months after signing, Iran’s nuclear activity contracted and oil prices fell as market expectations softened.

However, since late July, proxy conflicts between Iran and the United States in the Middle East have deteriorated again. Armed groups backed by Iran launched rockets at U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria; the United States responded with airstrikes, resulting in casualties on both sides. A U.S. State Department spokesperson recently noted that Iran had violated the memorandum’s commitment to “stop support for U.S. forces” and warned that if Iran does not immediately cease provocative actions, the United States will consider reinstating stricter economic sanctions. Pezeshkian replied that Iran’s actions are a reciprocal response to the United States’ failure to fulfill its sanction‑reduction pledge, and emphasized that the Iranian government “is prepared” to restore the memorandum if the United States makes the first concession.

In the political system of the Islamic Republic, the president is the head of the executive branch, but his actions must be carried out under the guidance and approval of the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate decision‑making authority, including appointment and dismissal of cabinet members and final review of foreign policy. Consequently, Pezeshkian’s statement also serves as a channel for conveying the Supreme Leader’s intentions to domestic and foreign audiences, indicating that Iran continues to seek conditional dialogue with the United States while not ruling out the use of military means to protect its security interests when necessary.

The international community’s reaction is divided. European Union diplomats have called on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid letting the conflict expand into a broader regional war; Russia has expressed support for Iran’s security concerns and criticized the United States’ sanctions policy as overly unilateral. The Middle East energy supply chain has also been affected, with oil prices rising in the short term due to market uncertainty. If the United States ultimately decides to reinstate the memorandum’s provisions, it could lead Iran to pause external military support, providing an opportunity to de‑escalate regional tensions.

For Taiwan, the tension between Iran and the United States directly impacts global oil prices and energy security. Taiwan heavily relies on imported crude oil and liquefied natural gas, and any supply disruption or price volatility caused by Middle East conflict would trigger a chain reaction affecting the island’s energy costs and industrial competitiveness. Moreover, Iran’s nuclear issue and U.S. sanctions policy are linked to the international non‑proliferation regime; Taiwan’s advocacy for nuclear non‑proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy on the world stage requires continuous monitoring of major powers’ moves on this issue to prepare for possible diplomatic and security challenges.