Iran has said it will not honour its commitments under a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States unless Washington fulfils its own obligations, marking a further escalation in tensions between the two countries. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the agreement has entered a “crisis phase” and reiterated Tehran’s position that commitments must be based on mutual compliance.

Addressing a press conference in Tehran, Baqaei said Iran’s stance has remained consistent since the beginning of discussions. He described the arrangement as “commitment in exchange for commitment,” stating that Iran would continue to meet its responsibilities if the US also adheres to its commitments. He rejected claims that Tehran was responsible for weakening the agreement and said Iran’s obligations and those of the other party were clearly defined.

Baqaei accused Washington of violating multiple sections of the memorandum under what he described as different pretexts. He said Iran would not accept accusations of breaching agreements while the United States continued to allegedly fail to meet its own commitments. The statement reflected Tehran’s growing frustration over recent developments and signalled that the diplomatic arrangement remains under severe strain.

Also Read: India-Australia Uranium Deal Explained: Impact On Nuclear Power Expansion

The remarks come amid rising military tensions in the Gulf region, where the United States and Iran have been involved in a series of retaliatory actions. The US has carried out strikes against Iranian military and infrastructure targets in recent days, saying the operations were in response to attacks on commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has also launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in the region.

The June memorandum, which was facilitated through Pakistan’s mediation, was aimed at reducing hostilities between Washington and Tehran and ensuring safer navigation through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. However, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement, with US President Donald Trump declaring that the arrangement had effectively ended.

Iran’s latest statement indicates that the already fragile understanding is facing further challenges as diplomatic efforts struggle amid continuing military confrontations. With both countries maintaining opposing positions over responsibility for the breakdown, the future of the agreement remains uncertain and regional tensions continue to rise.

Also Read: Pakistan Played Peacemaker Role In Iran-US Deal, Says PM Shehbaz Sharif