TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai has declared that Tehran currently has no intention of engaging in negotiations with the United States, asserting that the country’s primary focus remains on its own defense amid escalating military hostilities.
Speaking at a p4ress briefing, Baqai stated that the United States had abandoned its obligations under the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) by failing to uphold its promises. He emphasized that when the other side reneges on its commitments, Iran is also compelled to step back from its own obligations .
“When the other side abandoned its obligations, we also had to avoid our obligations,” Baqai said, reiterating Iran’s position that the MoU has entered a “crisis phase” due to continuous U.S. violations .
The spokesman’s remarks come as the U.S. and Iran remain locked in direct conflict, with Washington launching multiple airstrikes on Iranian targets and Tehran retaliating against U.S. military assets in the Gulf region . U.S. President Donald Trump has also announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iran, further undermining the June MoU that was meant to lift the blockade and pave the way for broader negotiations .
Baqai made clear that Iran would follow a principle of “commitment for commitment,” warning that if the United States continues to breach the deal, Iran would no longer see any reason to fulfill its own commitments . He also noted that Iran remains in contact with regional mediators, including Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan, but stressed that diplomatic efforts cannot proceed while U.S. military aggression continues .
The escalating violence has cast serious doubt over the survival of the 14-point MoU, though neither side has formally declared it void . With both sides accusing each other of violations and military operations expanding, the agreement appears to be surviving more on paper than in practice .
