The deal between the US and Iran is “America’s declaration of defeat” remarked Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, amid both sides’ attempts to put their ongoing conflict to bed.
Speaking at a conference in Azerbaijan, Ghalibaf said the memorandum of understanding signed last week with Washington came about as a result of Iran’s resilience rather than American pressure.
“The Islamabad understanding was not the result of pressure and coercion, but rather the result of the resistance and authority of the brave Iranian nation,” Ghalibaf said.
“That is why the Islamabad memorandum of understanding became a declaration of America’s defeat,” he added.
The agreement, brokered by Pakistan, formally halted hostilities between the US and Iran, kicking off a 60-day period of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement on all outstanding issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and regional security, reports Times Of Israel.
Ghalibaf also called for a regional security framework free from outside military involvement, arguing that Middle Eastern countries should determine their own political and security arrangements.
“We consider the withdrawal of foreign military forces from the region a strategic goal,” he said, adding that external forces “do not create sustainable security” and instead contribute to instability.
His comments came as diplomatic activity intensified across the region, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarking a Gulf tour with a visit to the UAE, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held discussions with a Hamas leader regarding ongoing negotiations.
The latest exchanges also come amid continued disagreement over international inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, a key component of the interim agreement. The return of IAEA inspectors to Iran’s enrichment facilities marks one of the core issues in talks between Tehran and Washington.
Pakistan confirmed that technical negotiations between Washington and Tehran are expected to resume next week.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman, Tahir Andrabi, told reporters in Islamabad that discussions were likely to restart on Tuesday, although Monday or Wednesday remained possible.
He did not disclose the location of the next round of talks.
