U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the primary objective of the United States has been and will remain preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in any shape or form.
اضافة اعلان
Trump wrote in a post on his platform, Truth Social: "The main goal is, and always will be, that Iran does not, in any way or form, possess a nuclear weapon."
Trump’s comments come at a time when diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran remain stalled amid differences over reaching an understanding, coinciding with ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump had pledged to intensify economic pressure on Iran as his administration considers additional options to tighten sanctions on Tehran, including measures targeting entities assisting in the Iranian oil trade.
For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Monday that negotiations with the United States have not commenced due to what he described as Washington’s violation of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, emphasizing that Tehran does not make decisions under the pressure of deadlines or ultimatums.
Baghaei explained that the timeframe mentioned in the memorandum was designated for conducting negotiations regarding sanction relief and the nuclear file. He denied that it stipulated a 60-day deadline, accusing the United States of breaching its provisions just a few weeks after signing.
He added that Pakistan and Qatar are exerting efforts to calm the situation and that there is no other mediator, noting ongoing contacts with Doha and its role in de-escalation efforts.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesman affirmed that negotiations with the Sultanate of Oman are continuing to establish a mechanism for securing navigation, holding the "illegal" U.S. actions responsible for the lack of security in the strait.
Baghaei added that "sabotage efforts" by certain parties contributed to prolonging the negotiations, asserting that "Iran’s steadfastness has foiled the enemies' calculations." He also noted that Tehran has been following up on the fate of the pilots in Qatar since the early days, considering their case a "serious and important" demand.
On Monday, August 17, the 60-day deadline set by the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to reach a final agreement between Iran and the United States expires without leading to direct negotiations or an agreement on its extension, amid persistent disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade on Iran.
Tehran and Washington signed the 14-point memorandum of understanding on June 18. It stipulated ending the war and reaching a final agreement within 60 days—extendable by mutual consent—alongside the gradual lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, securing the passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, granting exemptions for Iranian oil exports, and unfreezing Iranian funds.
