Talks stall as US refuses certain terms of Iran peace MoU
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Tehran: The United States is reportedly refusing to accept certain clauses of a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran on ending the conflict, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said.
Tasnim, citing information obtained by its reporter, reported that despite talks between the two sides on Sunday, Washington is blocking provisions of the draft MoU, including terms related to the release of Iran’s frozen assets.
The agency added that there remains a possibility the MoU could be abandoned, and that Tehran has emphasised it will not retreat from its red lines in protecting its citizens’ rights.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state-run IRIB TV that Iran and the United States are working to finalise a 14-clause MoU to end the war, Xinhua reported.
“At this stage, our focus is on ending the imposed war,” Baghaei said, adding that Tehran and Washington aim to reach a final agreement “within a period of 30 to 60 days.” He said principal issues in the MoU include halting US maritime attacks — described by the US as a naval blockade — and matters relating to the release of Iran’s frozen assets.
Iran, the United States and Israel agreed a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Following the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of talks in Islamabad on April 11–12, which produced no agreement.
(Inputs from IANS)