Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Iran said Saturday that a memorandum of understanding with the United States would not be signed on Sunday, although Tehran left open the possibility that the deal could be finalized in the coming days.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the proposed Islamabad memorandum was focused on ending fighting across all fronts, including Lebanon, and would not cover Iran’s nuclear program at this stage.
Baghaei said Tehran was still waiting for the exact signing schedule, adding that the agreement would not be signed the following day but could still move forward soon.
He said Iran had to proceed carefully because of what Tehran viewed as hesitation and shifting statements from Washington on the negotiations.
Baghaei also said Iran’s negotiating team had no plan to travel to Geneva or any other venue in the next two days, even as he described the chances of completing the memorandum soon as very high.
The Iranian official also raised Tehran’s claim over service-related costs in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran and Oman hold sovereign rights over the strategic waterway under international law.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier said Iran and the United States were closer than ever to a peace deal, with finalization possible within 24 hours and electronic signing expected before technical talks next week.
The Pakistan-mediated talks have centered on halting hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, and reaching common ground on Iran’s nuclear program. Tensions have remained high since US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February triggered Iranian retaliation and the closure of the key energy chokepoint.
