Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaie said Thursday that the planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland are no longer certain after the signing of the memorandum of understanding, and warned that continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon would constitute a breach of the agreement for which Washington is responsible. He also stated that removing enriched uranium from Iran is unacceptable as a path forward, and that the US must enforce Israeli compliance with the MoU.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaie cast further doubt on the planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland during a press briefing early Thursday, stating that the talks are no longer certain after the signing of the memorandum of understanding. He reiterated Iran's categorical rejection of removing enriched uranium from the country, while noting that dilution remains an option. The briefing, relayed by Iranian state media, is Baghaie's latest statement in a coordinated escalation of rhetoric that began Wednesday evening.
Baghaie's remarks follow a sequence of statements The Zioneer has tracked. At 20:58 Jerusalem Wednesday, he warned that continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon would breach the MoU, and that Tehran would respond. At 01:14 Jerusalem Thursday, he held the US responsible for securing Israeli compliance. By 04:02 Jerusalem Thursday, Baghaie had rejected uranium removal and cast doubt on the Friday talks. Thursday morning's briefing deepens that position, formally tying the talks' survival to an end to Israeli operations in Lebanon and laying out Iran's enforcement demands on the US.
As The Zioneer reported on Monday (June 15), Baghaie had already warned that ending the war in Lebanon is inseparable from the overall agreement and that the US must enforce Israeli compliance. The nuclear issue, he said then, was deferred to talks within 60 days of signing. A Friday report by The Zioneer noted that the MoU framework defers technical resolution of enriched uranium to a second-stage deal.
It remains unclear whether the Friday talks in Switzerland will take place as originally scheduled, and whether Iran's public conditions reflect internal decision-making or a negotiating position. No response from the White House or State Department has been reported on Baghaie's latest statements.
6 developments
- StrongIran threatens breach of MoU, rejects removal of enriched uranium from the country
- StrongIran warns US must enforce Lebanon ceasefire obligations from MoU
- StrongIran's Araghchi: any Israeli strike on Lebanon or remaining in occupied lands breaches MoU
- DevelopingIran: US must enforce Israeli compliance with agreement; 60-day nuclear talks set
Source and signal
- Internal intake