On June 30, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the timing of any talks between Iran and the United States aimed at reaching a final agreement—under a memorandum of understanding that set a 60-day deadline—depends on Washington's implementation of the agreement's provisions.
Speaking at a press conference, Esmail Baghaei stated, "In the coming days, we must assess the current situation and then decide how and when to begin negotiations on a final agreement."
Referring to the first clause of the memorandum, Baghaei said Tehran's primary benchmark is whether the United States compels Israel to halt its military operations in Lebanon.
He added that Washington had committed to ending hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, saying, "For us, the main criterion is the United States' adherence to these commitments and its ability to compel the Israeli regime to implement them."
Baghaei, who also serves as spokesperson for Iran's negotiating team, reiterated in response to another question that Israeli attacks on Lebanon must cease.
Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, declared a ceasefire following the signing of the memorandum between Iran and the United States. However, Israeli forces remain deployed in southern Lebanon, and sporadic clashes have continued despite the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, following drone attacks attributed to Iran on two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. forces struck military targets in southern Iran early on June 28 and June 29. Iran, in turn, launched an attack on Bahrain.
Commenting on the impact of these confrontations on the implementation of the memorandum, Baghaei said the Islamic Republic would leave no action "unanswered" and that any attack against Iran would receive a "decisive and immediate" response.
His remarks came despite statements by the U.S. president and the White House press secretary announcing that U.S. and Iranian representatives would hold talks in Doha on June 30. Both Iran and Qatar have denied that such negotiations are taking place.
