Iran: Peace Talks Will Not Begin if Threats Continue

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted on Monday that negotiations to reach a final peace agreement with the United States will not begin if threats against Iran continue. In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi cited provisions in Article 13 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Iran and the United States last month. “Article 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding clearly states that negotiations on a final agreement will not begin if threats continue. Respect your signature,” Araghchi wrote. The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, mediated by Pakistan, came into effect on 18 June after being electronically signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump. The 14-point agreement opens a 60-day window for diplomacy through indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States to achieve a permanent peace deal. Araghchi’s statement came hours after Trump warned that Washington is prepared to use military force should diplomatic efforts fail. “We will reach a deal or we will finish what we started. It will not be hard to do. But I prefer to reach a deal because I don’t want 91 million people to be affected,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The statement also followed a threat by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who vowed to “thwart” any future Iranian leader who attempts to attack his country. In the same post, Araghchi shared images showing large crowds of mourners in Tehran during the funeral procession for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed on 28 February, the first day of the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran.