Shafaqna Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States had violated the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he said called for an “end to the war” rather than a 60-day ceasefire that would need to be extended.
In an interview, Araghchi said the agreement explicitly declared an end to the conflict. “What was set out in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was an ‘end to the war’; meaning that in this memorandum, an end to the war was declared,” he said, according to ISNA.
He accused Washington of being responsible for the “resumption of hostilities,” asserting that the US had breached the terms of the memorandum.
Addressing references to a 60-day ceasefire, Araghchi clarified that the 60-day period was intended for negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement, rather than serving as a temporary ceasefire. “There was no 60-day ceasefire,” he said.
“The mediators — both Qatar and Pakistan — are exchanging messages and remain in contact with us, but this does not mean negotiations at all. No decision has yet been made to resume talks with the United States.”
On the topic of Iran-Oman negotiations over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said their “negotiations with Oman are ongoing” but that it was a “separate matter” and that Iran was “currently in the process of designing a temporary route, which will later be converted into a permanent one.”
He said that Iran “may reach a conclusion [with Oman] soon,” but emphasised that the Islamabad MoU and the Strait of Hormuz’s management were two separate issues.
Hormuz can be opened or closed only by Iran’s command: Deputy FM
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Iran retains authority over the strategic waterway.
Gharibabadi stated on X that “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power.”
Gharibabadi responded to Trump’s claim that the US might soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory following what he described as Iran’s defeat.
In the X thread, Gharibabadi said the waterway had been Iranian, remained Iranian, and would continue to be so, saying that it could only be closed or reopened under Iran’s command.
He also said Iran would ” continue to enforce the blockade” as long as the United States failed to acknowledge its strategic defeats and continued delusional claims.
Source: Express Tribune
