Tehran/Washington, June 30: Negotiations for a final security accord between Iran and the United States have not officially commenced, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The announcement contradicts a recent statement from US President Donald Trump, who asserted that Tehran had requested an immediate high-level meeting in Qatar today following recent tit-for-tat military exchanges.
While a specialized team from Tehran is arriving in Doha, its presence is restricted to technical discussions surrounding the release of frozen Iranian funds. The Iranian government stated that it will not enter formal diplomatic sessions with the American delegation until Washington addresses a series of foundational commitments under their mutual memorandum of understanding.
“We have not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei asserted, noting that specific preliminary articles must be fully honored first. According to the ministry, Article 1 of the interim agreement designates the ongoing Lebanese ceasefire as central to regional stability, while Article 4 mandates that the United States lift its naval blockades on Iranian ports and pull its forces back from regional borders.
The diplomatic friction unfolds as US officials face pressure at home regarding current sanctions. Lawmakers in Washington pressed key representatives Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff on the state of Iran’s nuclear material stockpile and the potential easing of restrictions on Iranian petroleum exports, with both officials reinforcing that their absolute priority is blocking Iran’s ability to retain enriched uranium.
As regional dynamics remain delicate, Tehran has also extended its diplomatic warnings to European actors. The foreign ministry declared its total rejection of France’s proposed de-mining initiatives within the Strait of Hormuz, warning French authorities that such activities constitute an unnecessary provocation in a highly complex maritime environment.
