Iran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended Tehran's expired Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States, describing it as the best option for ending hostilities between the two nations. Pezeshkian characterized the current situation as "neither war nor peace."

According to Deutsche Welle, Pezeshkian stated that members of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) supported this assessment, emphasizing the principles of dignity, wisdom, and national interest. He assured that the agreement did not constitute capitulation, asserting that the supreme leader's policies would guide Iran's actions.

The MoU, signed by then-US President Donald Trump in June, outlined a 60-day timeline to resolve the US-Israeli-led conflict and required Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Despite the deadline passing last week without resolution, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, with Iran's closure in response to US-Israeli attacks impacting the global economy.

Pezeshkian stressed the importance of exiting the current impasse to attract foreign investment to Iran. He noted the sensitivity of capital to risk, highlighting the need to mitigate these risks to foster economic growth.

In a related development, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistan's top military leader, Asim Munir, is set to visit Iran. The visit aligns with Pakistan's ongoing efforts to promote peace and security in the region, having been instrumental in facilitating the MoU between Washington and Tehran.

Despite these diplomatic moves, Mohsen Rezaei, the new hardline leader of the SNSC, cautioned neighboring countries against supporting the US. He warned of potential retaliation, including targeting alternative oil-shipping routes out of the Persian Gulf, if neighbors engage in the US economic war against Iran.