Baghaei: United States betrayed diplomacy for a third time

Pars Today – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the United States has betrayed diplomacy for a third time by flagrantly violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

According to Pars Today, citing IRIB News, Baghaei told Austria's ORF television network that the Islamabad Memorandum is neither a lengthy nor a complicated document, but rather a short agreement consisting of 14 clauses. He said the international community had expected the United States to honor its commitments this time, but instead, Washington committed a clear and serious violation of multiple provisions of the agreement.

"The United States has, for the third time, betrayed diplomacy," Baghaei said.

He also stressed that Iran has fulfilled all of its obligations to facilitate the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and argued that the United States bears direct responsibility for the current situation in the strategic waterway.

Tehran and Washington Are Exchanging Messages Through Diplomatic Channels

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that messages are currently being exchanged between Tehran and Washington through diplomatic channels. Responding to a question about the status of diplomatic contacts between Iran and other parties, he stated that intermediaries are continuing to play their role.

He stressed, however, that Tehran's immediate priority is defending Iran's national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and protecting Iranian citizens from U.S. war crimes. Given the ongoing military attacks and bombardment against Iran, he said the country's main focus remains on national defense and resistance.

Responsibility for Recent Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz

Addressing a question about the recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran has safeguarded the security of the strategic waterway and the Persian Gulf in good faith for decades, despite being subjected to severe sanctions.

Baghaei rejected any Iranian involvement in the recent incidents, arguing that the current instability is a direct consequence of the U.S. and Israeli attacks that began on February 28. He said these developments cannot be ignored or reduced to a single incident.

He added that the international community should recognize that Iran should not be blamed for the consequences of actions taken by others.

U.S. Failure to Honor Commitment on Releasing Iran's Frozen Assets

Responding to a question about whether the United States had fulfilled its commitment to release Iran's frozen assets, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the process has come to a complete halt.

He stressed that the assets belong to Iran and do not constitute U.S. financial assistance. Baghaei noted that Washington was obligated to provide Iran with unrestricted access to its own funds, but once again failed to honor its commitments and, in doing so, effectively violated all the provisions of the memorandum of understanding, including this one.

Prospects for Peace in the Region

Baghaei said that the Iranian people have never sought war and have instead been subjected to aggression, emphasizing that Iran remains determined to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity.

Regarding the prospects for peace in the region, he said that achieving peace is not easy as long as there are forces that consistently seek war, and given the actions of a genocidal regime that has waged wars against countries in the region over the past eight decades.

Iran Rejects Western Criticism of Its Human Rights Record

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that European countries cannot lecture Iran on human rights while remaining silent about genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He called on European governments to align their words with their actions, arguing that they express concern over the execution of a small number of convicted criminals while remaining silent about the killing of Iranian children and university students in cities such as Minab and Lamerd.

Baghaei said such a discrepancy undermines the credibility of Western human rights criticism and urged European countries to adopt a more consistent approach.