Iran accuses US of violating agreement, says 60-day ultimatum now ‘invalid’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of seriously violating a memorandum of understanding (MoU), saying the much-discussed 60-day ultimatum between Tehran and Washington has now become completely invalid. Iran said formal talks could not begin because the United States breached the agreement only weeks after the bilateral memorandum was signed on June 17. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mr. Esmail Baghaei made the remarks at the ministry’s regular weekly press briefing on Monday.

Mr. Baghaei clarified that the memorandum did not contain any “60-day deadline” or obligation to meet an ultimatum. “Iran never formulates its policies under any kind of pressure, ultimatum or deadline,” he said. He explained that the agreement had proposed a 60-day framework for negotiations on two main issues—sanctions relief and nuclear policy. The period could also be extended with the consent of both sides if necessary.

However, the United States violated the agreement at the outset, preventing any talks from moving forward. As a result, Mr. Baghaei said, there is no longer any basis for the 60-day timeframe. At the briefing, Mr. Baghaei also reiterated Iran’s firm position on maintaining its “sovereign rights” in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. He said the Foreign Ministry fully supports ongoing legal measures by the Iranian Parliament to protect regional security and Iran’s rights. “Under the country’s Constitution, Parliament’s position is clear. The Foreign Ministry is fully cooperating with Parliament in all legal proceedings, taking existing laws and the actual circumstances into account, and will continue providing expert opinions in the future,” he said.