Shafaqna Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the 60-day period for negotiations with the United States under the June 17 memorandum of understanding had “lost its relevance” following what he described as “flagrant” violations by Washington.
“There is no provision in the memorandum of understanding referring to a ‘60-day deadline’, and the Islamic Republic of Iran never formulates its policies under pressure, ultimatums or time limits,” Baghaei told reporters during a weekly press briefing, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
He explained that the memorandum instead provided a 60-day period for negotiations on two key issues — the lifting of sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme. According to Baghaei, the negotiating period could have been extended if the two sides failed to reach an agreement within the initial timeframe.
“Due to the flagrant and widespread violation of the memorandum of understanding by the United States, no dialogue was started just a few weeks after its signing,” Baghaei said.
“As a result, the discussion of the 60-day deadline completely lost its relevance,” he added.
The spokesman claimed that the US sanctions had “no impact” on Iran, saying the main obstacle to resolving disputes between Tehran and Washington “is not a lack of mediators”.
“Countries such as Pakistan and Qatar are already playing a role in Iran-US relations,” Baghaei noted.
“It is also entirely natural for some European countries to express their views and indicate their readiness in bilateral contacts to offer their ‘good offices’,” he said. “But this does not mean that a new mediator has emerged or been accepted in the course of Iran-US relations.”
Hormuz transit
The Iranian spokesman said negotiations with Oman on a maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz are continuing.
“Compilation of the maritime traffic route map with Oman has taken time due to the security complications caused by the actions of the US and the Israeli regime, the multiplicity of actors and the disruption of malicious currents,” he added.
Baghaei said a possible understanding following talks with Muscat would take the form of a package comprising a roadmap and a joint statement.
The spokesman said the fate of missing Iranian pilots remains on Tehran’s agenda.
“Diplomatic relations with Qatar do not conflict with the serious pursuit of the fate of the army pilots,” he said.
On March 2, Qatar’s Defence Ministry announced that it had shot down two Su-24 aircraft from Iran. Tehran said at the time that four pilots were killed when their aircraft were hit during attacks on a US base in Qatar. Iran also said the remains of one pilot had since been recovered, while the fate of the other three pilots remained unknown.
Source: Express Tribune
