TEHRAN, Iran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said the country’s highest security authority supports the “path of dialogue”, as US President Donald Trump criticised the Israeli attack on Beirut, saying it came on a “special day” when the United States was “so close to a peace deal with Iran”.
“The Supreme National Security Council has concluded that the path of dialogue should be pursued,” Pezeshkian said in a meeting with media executives, according to the presidency’s website.
President Pezeshkian added that the council was in charge of “decisions regarding war and negotiations”.
Pezeshkian said “despite recent events, very good relations have been established with neighbouring countries” and said many misunderstandings were “on the path to resolution”.
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and discussed the evolving regional situation and welcomed encouraging progress towards an understanding between the US and Iran.
The top diplomats stressed the importance of continued diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing tensions.
Dar and Fidan expressed optimism that the positive momentum in contacts between Washington and Tehran would help promote lasting peace and stability in the wider region. They underscored the need for dialogue and constructive efforts to address regional challenges through peaceful means.
On Sunday, Trump criticised Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s capital and said that the Israeli attack on Beirut “should not have happened,” as the US was close to a peace deal with Iran.
“This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump said that the situation in the Middle East was close to a breakthrough peace agreement.
“Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless, nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and should not disrupt this important process,” Trump said.
“We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down. There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel,” the US President said.
“This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace — Let’s not blow it,” Trump concluded.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 14, 2026
On Saturday, Trump said in a social media post that a deal with Iran was expected to be signed on Sunday, adding that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to all maritime traffic immediately after the agreement takes effect.
He added that the proposed agreement with Iran would ensure that Tehran would never acquire a nuclear weapon, describing the deal as “a wall to no nuclear weapon.”
“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL. Our relationship with Iran is a much different and better one than previous Administrations have had,” he said.
The US President also said relations between Washington and Tehran were now “much different and better” than under previous administrations.
“We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again,” he said.
