TEHRAN : Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai has confirmed that third-party countries, including Pakistan and Qatar, are exchanging messages between Tehran and Washington, but stressed that defending Iran’s sovereignty remains the nation’s top priority amid ongoing hostilities.
In an interview with an Austrian broadcaster, Baqai stated that indirect communication channels between Iran and the United States remain active through mediators, even as tensions persist in the region.
The spokesman detailed that Iran had fulfilled its commitment under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure safe passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz for a period of 30 days. However, he alleged that before this timeframe expired, the United States launched fresh attacks, using purported incidents involving ships as a pretext.
Baqai further claimed that this marks the third time in the past year that Iran’s diplomatic efforts have been undermined by military strikes occurring during active negotiations. He accused Washington of disrupting dialogue through escalatory actions.
Addressing economic grievances, the Iranian spokesman asserted that the United States has so far failed to release Iran’s frozen assets in accordance with the terms of the MoU, despite prior commitments.
There has been no immediate response from the White House or the US State Department regarding Baqai’s claims. Both Pakistan and Qatar have not officially commented on their mediation roles.
