Tehran: Iran announced that the anticipated signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States will not occur on Sunday, although it may take place in the upcoming days. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the MoU, known as the Islamabad MoU, primarily aims to halt the ongoing conflicts on multiple fronts, including Lebanon, while explicitly excluding discussions on the nuclear issue at this stage.
According to Anadolu Agency, Baghaei emphasized the need for patience regarding the exact signing date of the memorandum, suggesting that while it will not happen immediately, there remains a strong possibility of it occurring in the near future. He attributed the delay to what he described as Washington's 'hesitation' in making definitive statements about the process.
Baghaei clarified that Iran's negotiating team has no immediate plans to travel to Geneva or any other location within the next two days, underscoring the necessity of waiting to determine the precise signing date. He reiterated the high likelihood of concluding the MoU soon, as reported by the IRNA news agency.
The spokesman also asserted Iran's right to receive compensation for services rendered in the Strait of Hormuz, citing international law that designates the strait as falling within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated earlier that Iran and the US are closer than ever to a peace agreement, anticipating the deal's finalization within the next 24 hours. Sharif mentioned that following the anticipated electronic signing, technical level talks are scheduled for the following week.
The negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, have concentrated on ending hostilities between Iran and the United States, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, and reaching an understanding on Iran's nuclear program. Iranian officials have noted that a significant portion of the agreement text has already been settled, while accusing the US of delaying progress through inconsistent positions and statements.
The region has been tense since the US and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran in late February, leading to Iranian retaliations against Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets, and resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint.