Iran: Negotiations for a final agreement have not yet begun.
Related
Iranian Foreign Minister: If threats persist, final agreement negotiations will not begin.
According to Mars Finance, on July 7, Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi stated that if the threats continue, negotiations for a final agreement will not begin, and urged Iran to honor its commitments.
Iran says it will begin negotiations on a final agreement with the United States when the time is right.
According to BlockBeats, on July 1st, CCTV News reported that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi led a delegation from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Bank, and other departments to Qatar. That morning in Doha, they met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the implementation of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), including "removing existing obstacles" to a ceasefire in Lebanon. Following the meeting between Gharibabadi and Mohammed, representatives from Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan held trilateral talks in Doha to review the implementation of the MOU. Gharibabadi stated after the meeting that Iran has established a working group to monitor the implementation of the MOU and negotiate a final agreement, but formal negotiations have not yet begun. Iran is continuing consultations through mediators to determine the time and place for its working group to begin negotiations. "If the necessary conditions are met, the working group will formally begin negotiations," he said.
The US and Iran concluded a new round of indirect negotiations, with the US urging Iran to abandon its plan to impose passage fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Mars Finance, on July 2nd, Iran and the United States concluded a round of indirect talks on Wednesday, with no signs of progress toward a lasting peace. Instead, the focus remained on the issues they claimed to have resolved when they announced a provisional agreement two weeks prior. Reuters reported that sources familiar with the discussions said negotiators from both countries spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of Iranian funds—two key issues under the preliminary agreement. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the next meeting will be held after the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, scheduled for July 9th. In Washington, US President Trump stated that progress was being made on the possibility of limiting Iran's nuclear program. "The denuclearization of Iran is progressing well," he told reporters. "They've had very good meetings, and we're watching." However, sources indicated that the nuclear program issue was not raised in the negotiations, which were essentially technical.
Iran condemns the United States and its allies for violating the interim agreement.
According to Mars Finance, on July 8, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that violations of Iran's arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz and Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon are rendering the interim agreement ineffective.
US media reveals inside story of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement: The Iranian president and central bank governor jointly urged the Supreme Leader to "sign it quickly."
According to a report by The New York Times on July 4th, citing four officials familiar with the details of the meeting, Iranian President Pezechzian visited Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during the final stages of negotiations when Khamenei hesitated to approve the preliminary ceasefire agreement. The Iranian president told the Supreme Leader that the economic situation was dire, the US naval blockade was strangling Iran, and he would resign if he rejected the agreement. Furthermore, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Abdulnaser Hemmati, also wrote to Khamenei, stating that the country faced a severe budget crisis and that critical food and medical supplies would run out by the end of August if the naval blockade continued. Hemmati explained in the letter that Iran could not sell oil on the required scale or find alternative trade routes. These statements played a crucial role in Mojtaba's eventual decision to support the agreement. In a brief public statement, he stated that although he opposed the agreement "in principle," he instructed the president to proceed if he obtained the support of the Supreme National Security Council. Pezechzian stated that the council approved the agreement by 12 out of 13 votes.
The US warned Iran that changing the status quo in the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the agreement.
According to Mars Finance, on July 2nd, Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV, citing sources, reported that the United States has informed Iran that it rejects any actions that would alter the current status quo in the Strait of Hormuz. The sources added that any attempt to change the status quo would be considered a violation of the relevant agreements. The source pointed out that the United States views Iran's attitude and actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz as the first test of its commitments under the agreement; any progress regarding the frozen funds in Iran will be conditional upon Iran's compliance with the agreement.