Iran’s Foreign Ministry has declared that the United States has “destroyed the foundation” for any meaningful dialogue, following what it describes as a “flagrant and gross violation” of a recently brokered maritime agreement.
In an exclusive interview with Austria’s ORF television, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei asserted that Washington’s actions have effectively betrayed diplomatic efforts for a third time, shattering international expectations that the U.S. would finally honor its commitments.
“The entire world expected that this time, at least, the United States would fulfill its commitments,” Baqaei stated. “But what the United States did was a flagrant violation of various provisions of this agreement, and for the third time, diplomacy was betrayed.”
While Baqaei confirmed that indirect message exchanges between Tehran and Washington continue through mediators—including Pakistan, Oman, and Qatar—he stressed that the basis for direct negotiations has been irreparably compromised. He emphasized that Iran has never sought conflict, asserting, “We were attacked and forced to defend ourselves. We have shown the world that we are determined and steadfast in defending our sovereignty, territorial integrity, and dignity.”
At the heart of the dispute is the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was designed to de-escalate tensions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to Baqaei, Iran meticulously fulfilled its obligations under the pact to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels. However, he detailed that the U.S. reneged on the deal’s core terms within weeks of its signing.
“Based on Article 5 of this memorandum, a 30-day period was foreseen to restore commercial vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz—from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa—to pre-war status,” Baqaei explained. “Iran fulfilled all its commitments to facilitate the safe passage of ships. However, on the 21st or 22nd day after signing the memorandum, the United States, under the pretext of incidents against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, launched a massive military aggression against Iran.”
The spokesperson further accused Washington of imposing a naval blockade on Iranian shipping and unilaterally applying a 20 percent tariff on vessels transiting the strait—actions he said directly contravene the memorandum’s stipulations. He maintained that Iran’s primary focus remains on defending its homeland and protecting its people against what he termed “war crimes” committed by the United States.
When pressed on the prospects for lasting peace in the region, Baqaei struck a cautious tone, noting that achieving stability remains an elusive goal. “There are always forces that seek war,” he remarked, citing what he described as decades of continuous aggression by the Israeli regime against regional countries as a primary obstacle to sustainable peace.
Source: Tasnim news agency