Iran no longer bound by 14-point MoU after US military action, says FM spokesperson
Tehran, July 19
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that Tehran no longer considers itself committed to implementing the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding with the US, signed last month, after the United States violated its obligations under the agreement by escalating its military strike on the Islamic Republic.
According to a statement carried by Iranian state media, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Baghaei said that the MoU was based on reciprocal commitments and that Washington's actions had altered Iran's position on the agreement.
"The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was based on a commitment for a commitment, and with the US's action to violate its commitments, Iran no longer considers itself committed to implementing it," Baghaei said.
The Iranian spokesperson further stated that Tehran's retaliatory military actions were limited to self-defence and targeted only US military assets.
"We have only defended ourselves and have not attacked any targets other than US military bases and military equipment," he said.
Baghaei further stated that the US and Israel's strikes targeting civilian areas during their operations amounted to war crimes.
"The US and the Zionist regime have mainly targeted civilian centres and ordinary people in their attacks, which is a clear example of a war crime," he added.
His remarks come as tensions between Iran and the United States escalated after the collapse of the 14-point MoU, signed last month, aimed at ending the hostilities between the two sides and opening the pathway for further negotiations, particularly on Iran's nuclear programme.
Its collapse renewed the conflict in West Asia, with the US striking Iranian military and civilian assets, and the Islamic Republic also targeting American bases across the Gulf in retaliatory strikes.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that two US service members were killed and another remains missing in Jordan following Iranian retaliatory strikes on the US military assets at the Al-Azraq Air Base.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The reports of civilian casualties are deeply disturbing. War is always ugly, but targeting civilians deliberately crosses every line. Both sides should be held accountable. The world has seen enough bloodshed in West Asia. Why can't diplomacy ever win?
From India's perspective, this escalation is alarming. Our entire energy security depends on stability in the Gulf. Every time these tensions flare up, oil prices spike and our economy suffers. We need to support a ceasefire and dialogue, not take sides. Modi ji's balancing act between Israel, Iran and the US is going to get very tricky now.
The 14-point MoU sounded like a good faith effort. When both sides blame each other for breaking it, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. But the loss of life - American soldiers, Iranian civilians, Israeli citizens - it is all tragic. Our own history with the US and Pakistan shows how these agreements collapse without trust. 😔
Call me skeptical, but Iran claiming they only target military assets while the US says civilians have been hit? Hard to believe either side fully. What I do know is that India has 9 million citizens working in the Gulf region. Our government needs to prioritize their safety and ensure evacuation plans are ready. This is not our war, but our people are in the middle of it.
The US violated the MoU first, now Iran backs out - typical cycle of violence. But what about the bigger picture? Iran's nuclear program remains unchecked, Israel feels threatened, and the entire region suffers. India has always advocated for dialogue but honestly, are we even relevant in West Asian geopolitics? We just import oil and hope for the best. Time to take
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.