The Ham-Mihan newspaper in Tehran has cautioned President Masoud Pezeshkian that delaying a response to US President Donald Trump for direct talks would be more detrimental than making a poor decision.
Pezeshkian has downplayed the importance of the memorandum that Trump signed on Tuesday to intensify sanctions enforcement by reducing Tehran's oil exports to zero. However, Trump also expressed a wish to hold direct talks with his Iranian counterpart and preferably reach an agreement rather than activate maximum pressure measures.
The Iranian president argued that sanctioning a country which has many neighbors and friends would not be easy and expressed confidence that "Iran could overcome its difficulties with everyone’s help and the wisdom of the Leader of the Revolution.”
"They believe our economy depends entirely on oil and aim to block our exports, but there are many ways to counter their efforts," Pezeshkian said Wednesday. However, he has previously acknowledged on multiple occasions that Iran's economy would suffer significantly if sanctions remain in place.
On Thursday, he also reiterated that proving that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful would be an easy task.
“These statements will not solve any problems,” Ham-Mihan wrote in an editorial titled “Delayed Decision Worse Than Making a Bad Decision. ” The paper urged Pezeshkian to clearly announce Iran’s position by Friday, after securing the Supreme Leader’s agreement and approval.
“Otherwise, we will be paying the costs of a ‘delayed decision’ which would be higher than the cost of making a ‘bad decision’," the editorial stated, arguing that the future of Iran-US relations could only be evaluated once Iran announces a final and official decision.
Several other reformist media outlets on Thursday similarly stressed the importance of seizing the opportunity to avoid further economic strain and escalating tensions. The moderate-conservative news website Asr-e Iran also echoed the need for decisive action in an editorial titled “Mr. Pezeshkian, Call Trump.”
The piece argued that the best response to Trump’s overtures would be for Pezeshkian to initiate a direct phone call to discuss a potential deal, focusing solely on the nuclear issue. The editorial emphasized that Trump likely expects a prompt response.
Hardline media such as Kayhan and the Revolutionary Guards-linked Javan, however, have staunchly rejected any direct talks with the Trump administration as before.
Trump’s approach and US Policy
Trump has extended multiple overtures to Iran, including dismissing rumors of a joint US-Israel military strike as “greatly exaggerated.” He expressed his preference for a "Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement," which he claims would allow Iran to grow and prosper peacefully.
However, a White House fact sheet released Tuesday, after Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) reinstating maximum pressure on Iran, outlined a stringent policy. The NSPM mandates that Iran must be denied nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, its terrorist networks neutralized, and its development of missiles and other weaponry curbed.
Trump has also said he does not care who takes the first step to begin negotiations despite other people’s advice to let Iranians be the ones who reach out to the US.
Criticism of vague messages
Ham-Mihan also criticized government officials for sending vague messages including the government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani’s vague statement that Iran's position would be decided based on the principles of “dignity, wisdom, and expediency”.
Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Aref also said on Wednesday that engaging in talks with Trump is not currently on Iran's agenda although a meeting between “two human beings” is not impossible.
Experts’ opinions
Speaking to the reformist Shargh daily, Kourosh Ahmadi, a former Iranian diplomat to the UN, noted that Trump’s decision to sign a memorandum rather than issuing a new executive order reflects an effort to pressure Iran into negotiations. Ahmadi described this as a small window of opportunity for Iran to reach an agreement before the full effects of maximum pressure measures take hold.
Abolghasem Delphi, Iran’s former ambassador to Serbia, also urged the government to act swiftly. He advocated for practical steps to initiate talks with both Europe and the United States. Delphi observed that while Trump’s current focus is on the nuclear issue, he may adopt a similar framework to address other contentious topics in the future.