WANA (Jun 16) – Iran’s Foreign Minister announced that a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States will begin on Friday, coinciding with the official implementation of a memorandum of understanding between the two sides. He also stated that any new military attack by Israel on Lebanon or the continued occupation of Lebanese territory would be regarded by Iran as a violation of the agreement.

 

Speaking on Tuesday, June 16, at a meeting with ambassadors, chargés d’affaires, and heads of foreign and international missions based in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi outlined the latest developments in the country’s foreign policy and the ongoing negotiation process between Tehran and Washington.

 

Araghchi said that the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States was finalized on Sunday and is expected to be officially signed soon, likely on Friday, at a location that has not yet been formally announced.

 

He added that a new round of negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement would begin on the same day as the official signing of the memorandum.

 

Referring to the three-month negotiation process, the foreign minister said the talks had started in the early stages of the war and continued through June 15. He explained that the decision to divide the negotiations into two phases was made because of the complexities and obstacles that had emerged in reaching an agreement, which he attributed to what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran.

 

Araghchi explained that the first phase of talks focused on issues including ending the war, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the naval blockade, the release of Iran’s frozen assets, reconstruction efforts, and other related matters, ultimately leading to the drafting of the memorandum.

 

According to him, negotiations will continue for another 60 days following the completion of this phase in order to reach a final agreement. He noted that nuclear issues and sanctions relief would be addressed during the final stage of negotiations.

 

The foreign minister further stated that while the official implementation of the memorandum will begin on Friday, a ceasefire and the end of hostilities had already been announced as of Monday morning, Tehran time.

 

He described the most important element of the memorandum as the declaration of an “immediate and permanent end to the war across all fronts,” including Lebanon.

 

Addressing the connection between developments in Lebanon and the conflict involving Iran, Araghchi said that Iran had maintained from the outset that ending the conflict in Lebanon was a necessary condition for ending the war involving Iran, as the two fronts had become closely interconnected.

 

He also stated that, from Iran’s perspective, the parties to the memorandum consist of the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other, adding that ending the conflict in Lebanon is an inseparable part of achieving a complete end to hostilities.

 

Araghchi stressed that ending the war does not simply mean halting military operations, but also includes ending occupation. He said that a full conclusion of the war cannot be achieved without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied during the conflict.

 

He warned that any future Israeli military action against Lebanon or the continued occupation of Lebanese territory would be considered by Iran to be a violation of the memorandum.

 

The foreign minister also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and Qatar in facilitating the path toward the agreement.