ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's foreign ministry said Sunday that indirect message exchanges with the United States through mediators have not been suspended despite accusing Washington of destroying the conditions necessary for diplomacy by violating a post-war agreement and resuming military attacks over the strategic waterway of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state media IRNA, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Austria's ORF television in an interview that mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, remain active, but said Iran's priority is defending its sovereignty amid what he described as continued US military aggression.
"They [the Americans] are exchanging messages," IRNA quoted Baghaei as saying. "Mediators are performing their duties... but for us, since our country is under bombardment and attack, the main focus is on the defense of Iran."
Baghaei's remarks come following a renewed round of escalations between Washington and Tehran, which began on July 8 and continued for over two weeks, with the US targeting military targets and energy infrastructure and Iran targeting US military bases in the region.
Baghaei claimed Washington violated a 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding that was reached in April after a six week long war that began in late February. The MoU intended to end hostilities, with Baghaei saying the agreement required restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days while also committing the US to release Iranian frozen assets.
"This memorandum is not a long and complex document; it is a short 14-point MoU," he said. "The whole world expected that at least this time, the US would fulfill its obligations... What the US did was a clear and flagrant violation, and for the third time, diplomacy was betrayed."
The spokesperson alleged the US launched renewed military operations against Iran before the 30-day implementation period had expired, accusing Washington of using incidents involving commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as a pretext for renewed attacks.
"Iran fulfilled all its obligations to facilitate the safe passage of ships," Baghaei said, adding that "the United States launched a massive military aggression against Iran" before the deadline outlined in the agreement.
He also accused Washington of failing to release Iranian frozen assets as stipulated under the agreement.
"They had committed to releasing Iran's frozen assets," Baghaei said. "This money belongs to us... They showed bad faith and practically violated all the provisions of this MoU."
Despite the accusations, Baghaei said Tehran remains open to diplomacy under the right conditions.
"We have never shied away from the negotiating table because we know we are fighting for our legitimate rights," he said. "We have no fear of negotiation - but negotiation in the true sense of the word, not a negotiation aimed at dictating or imposing demands."
The remarks come as tensions remain high following the collapse of diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran after fighting expanded beyond the Strait of Hormuz to include attacks on US bases, regional shipping and Gulf allies. Both sides have traded accusations over responsibility for renewed hostilities.
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