The story: In his first major interview since taking office, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged efforts to tackle worsening economic challenges by lifting sanctions. The call for diplomacy comes as the Reformist administration—with the apparent backing of Iran’s supreme leader—is reconstituting the team of negotiators who produced the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Mohammad Javad Zarif served as chief diplomat during the two years of talks which led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the nuclear accord is formally known. Last month, he was named as...