Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday Tehran will keep pursuing the path of peace under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed recently with the United States, provided that Washington helps build an atmosphere of trust.
Iran is trying to move on the "path of peace" based on the "paragraphs" in the MoU, Pezeshkian said at a press conference, adding, "Now is the best time to reach an agreement, as there is solidarity, power and unity in the country."
"We are determined to ... use the MoU as the basis provided that the United States lets go of the atmosphere of distrust it has created, and an atmosphere of trust is formed," he said.
Pezeshkian highlighted reciprocity in negotiations with the United States, saying Iran will match its commitments to the level of U.S. compliance.
If the other side seeks to resort to force, Iran will not acquiesce to that, he said, adding that the basis for Iran's action will eventually be Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's decisions.
In June, Iran and the United States signed the MoU on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. The two sides were scheduled to hold negotiations within a 60-day period to reach a final agreement, but recent escalation in the region has left the talks' fate uncertain.
Iran to continue path of peace if U.S. builds trust
A grand tourism festival is in full swing in Shanghai, attracting global tourists to a wide range of events from colorful exhibitions in museums to wild animal park during nighttime.
The event benefited from a surge in foreign arrivals to China, which rose over 20 percent in the first half of this year. Nearly 18 million of the arrivals were visa-free.
The Shanghai Tourism Festival features over 170 summer events, offering a journey through time and culture.
A stunning collection from the Mawangdui Han Tombs is showcased at the Shanghai Art Museum. The stunning silks and the ancient musical instruments reveal the sophisticated daily life and aesthetic pursuits of the people over two thousand years ago.
"We're both staying in Paris. I fell in love with Shanghai the first time I went here. I just wanted to come back and experience more. It's the exhibition in the World Expo building, to get an idea of Chinese culture," said Raphaela Wilde, a German tourist.
The Shanghai Wild Animal Park has transformed into a carnival of sound and light, with parades and photo-ops.
As night falls, nocturnal predators roam free, offering a magical and often mysterious glimpse into their world.
"We are coming from Russia, Moscow. We want to visit the zoo, because it's very wonderful. Today it's WOW for me because I see for the first time lions and tigers," said Anastasiya Chumakova, a Russian tourist.
And navigating these cultural experiences is getting easier, with venues boosting support for international visitors.
"I am doing an internship volunteering here at the Jiushi Art Museum. I give tours to foreign visitors in English. It's pretty amazing that they have such global connection here at this museum," said Ami Petcavage, an exchange student from the United States.
The Shanghai Museum is presenting a unique interactive exhibition named "Awakening the Fifth Sun," offering rare opportunity to explore the worlds of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations right in the heart of the city.
"Our 'Awakening the Fifth Sun' event actually includes a guided tour, and we'll also be offering costume services. We have face painting like what I have on my face now, and some headdresses for rent," introduced Zhu Juanyuan, manager of the project.
This vibrancy is driving real economic impact. In the first half of this year, Shanghai welcomed over 5 million inbound tourists. That surge fueled the city's total cultural tourism spending to more than 543 billion yuan (nearly 80.5 billion US dollars) during the period.
Shanghai tourism festival fascinates global visitors with colorful events
