Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the Islamabad Agreement did not set a 60-day deadline, clarifying that the period was intended for discussions on various issues, including the nuclear matter.
Baghaei said negotiations could not begin because of what he described as “flagrant and widespread violations” by the United States.
Baqaei said the MoU instead envisaged a 60-day period for negotiations on two key issues, the lifting of sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme. He added that the period could have been extended if the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
Also Read: BJP Announces New National Team Under Nitin Nabin; Vasundhara Raje, Smriti Irani Get Key Roles
However, he said negotiations never began because of what he called the US' “flagrant and widespread violation” of the memorandum.
“Due to the flagrant and widespread violation of the memorandum of understanding by the United States, no dialogue was started just a few weeks after its signing,” Baqaei said.
“As a result, the discussion of the 60-day deadline completely lost its relevance,” he said as quoted by Anadolu Agency.
Baqaei claimed that US sanctions had “no impact” on Iran and said the main obstacle to resolving disputes between Tehran and Washington was not a lack of mediators.
He pointed to Pakistan and Qatar as countries already playing a role in Iran-US relations.
Baqaei also said some European countries had naturally expressed their views and offered their “good offices” through bilateral contacts.
However, he clarified that this did not mean a new mediator had emerged or been accepted in Iran-US relations.
Baqaei said negotiations with Oman over maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz were continuing.
He said preparing a maritime traffic route map with Oman had taken time because of security complications caused by actions by the US and Israel, multiple actors in the region and what he described as disruptive activities.
According to Baqaei, any understanding reached with Muscat could take the form of a package containing a roadmap and a joint statement.
The Iranian spokesperson also said Tehran continued to pursue the fate of Iranian pilots who went missing during the conflict.