Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has described the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with the US as “a declaration of America’s defeat”, saying it was achieved through Iranian resistance rather than pressure or coercion.
Speaking on Wednesday (24 June), he said:
"The Islamabad understanding was not the result of pressure and coercion, but rather the result of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation.”"That is why, the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding became a declaration of America's defeat," he said, adding that security in the Middle East must be ensured by the countries of the region.
The Islamabad MoU, brokered by Pakistan, sets out a framework to end the war and begin a 60-day negotiation period toward a final agreement. The first round of negotiations ended on Monday (22 June) with conflicting statements, including on nuclear oversight and the Strait of Hormuz.
The US says Iran has agreed to long-term IAEA nuclear inspections, while Tehran denies any inspection visit has been scheduled. The two sides also disagree over frozen Iranian assets, sanctions relief, Lebanon, and future control of the Strait of Hormuz. Israel and Lebanon are holding separate talks in Washington aimed at ending the fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is a key component of maintaining Iran’s interest in negotiating with the US.
"For us, the ceasefire in Lebanon has been and is as important as the ceasefire in Iran, and the end of the war in Lebanon has been as important as the end of the war in Iran," Ghalibaf said.
Talks between the US and Iran are expected to resume next week, likely on Tuesday (30 June). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Gulf allies to address concerns about the agreement, while Iran’s President and Foreign Minister have travelled to Pakistan following talks in Switzerland.
Source: commonspace.eu with Reuters, France24, and CNN
