US violations rendered MoU deadline irrelevant: Iran

TEHRAN, Aug 17: The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said there is no longer any relevance to the 60-day deadline following the June 17 memorandum between Tehran and Washington, saying the US had violated the agreement weeks after it was signed.

“There is no provision in the Memorandum of Understanding referring to a ‘60-day deadline’, and the Islamic Republic of Iran never formulates its policies under pressure, ultimatums or time limits,” EsmailBaghaei said.

He said the memorandum had envisaged a 60-day period for talks on two issues �" “the lifting of sanctions” and “the nuclear issue”, adding that the period could have been extended if no agreement was reached.
“Due to the gross and widespread violation of the memorandum by the United States just a few weeks after it was signed, no talks were initiated,” he said.

“As a result, the issue of a 60-day deadline became entirely moot,” Baghaei added.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says the main obstacle to resolving disputes between Tehran and Washington is not a lack of mediators.

Baghaei noted that countries, including Pakistan and Qatar, are already “making efforts and playing a role” in Iran-US relations.

“It is also entirely natural for some European countries to express their views and indicate their readiness in bilateral contacts to offer their ‘good offices’,” he said.

“But this does not mean that a new mediator has emerged or been accepted in the course of Iran-US relations,” Baghaei added.
�" AL JAZEERA