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Iran declares 60-day MoU deadline ‘irrelevant’ amid continued US violations

August 18, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on 17 August declaring the Islamabad memorandum of understanding’s (MoU) 60-day period “not relevant,” as Washington continues to violate the agreement and threaten the Islamic Republic.

Iran declares 60-day US memorandum deadline irrelevant amid flagrant violations by Washington
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Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that the 60-day negotiation timeline tied to the 17 June memorandum of understanding has lost all relevance due to… pic.twitter.com/56QM2UlSpz

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) August 17, 2026

“There is nothing in the text of the understanding referred to as a 60-day deadline. Iran is not a party that formulates its policies under pressure or according to deadlines. We make decisions based on our national interests and assessments,” said ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

“It was stated that negotiations on the nuclear issue would take place within 60 days, but we did not begin any negotiations at all. The US violated the understanding from the very beginning, and the 60-day issue is not relevant,” Baghaei added.

He went on to say that Tehran’s forces “are keeping a close eye on every development.”

Baghaei also commented on Iranian–Omani efforts to secure joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington insists is under its control despite the waterway’s closure by Iran and several recent strikes on vessels violating Tehran’s naval warnings.

“I did not say ‘roadmap.’ An agreement has been reached on a route for maritime traffic, but we are going to finalize the understanding in the form of a package: the route map plus a joint statement.”

A few days earlier, US President Donald Trump said in a speech that the US would soon “finish defeating Iran” and will declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory.

VIDEO | US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would “finish defeating” Iran and “soon” announce that the Strait of Hormuz is part of US territory.

“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated – pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a… pic.twitter.com/7YL3f2T96A

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) August 15, 2026

A 60-day de-escalation period involving a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the now-reimposed US blockade was meant to commence after the Islamabad MoU was announced in June.

Yet Washington began violating the understanding immediately. Iran retaliated repeatedly, prompting more deadly US strikes and harsher retaliatory operations by Tehran.

Last month, Washington renewed heavy bombardment of Iran for weeks.

Tehran responded with heavy and destructive attacks on US military bases across the region, inflicting heavy casualties on US troops.

The US president recently paused his campaign, claiming mediators were requesting de-escalation.

US media reports said that the pause came after the military advised Trump that the strikes were ineffective.

Since then, Washington has continued to violate the MoU with new sanctions on Iran and continuous threats to resume all-out war.

Tehran has vowed devastating responses to any renewal of US-Israeli aggression.

Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Ebrahim Azizi:

"Instead of making continuous bluffs regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the US President needs to think about securing himself so he does not have to take refuge in a food… pic.twitter.com/tFgIWaXAtt

— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) August 17, 2026