Iran's Foreign Ministry said it reached a broad agreement on signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States to end the war, but drew a line at suggestions that a signing was imminent.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, said at a regular briefing on the 25th (local time), "It is true that we have reached agreement on a significant part of the agenda for talks (with the United States)." He explained that the 14-article MOU focuses on ending the war, the Strait of Hormuz, and ending the United States' maritime robbery acts against Iran.
However, he added that the timing of a signing is uncertain. He said, "Because of instability in U.S. politics, any talks will face disruptions," adding, "No one can assert that this means a signing is imminent," taking a cautious stance.
Regarding the Trump administration's demand to halt uranium enrichment, he said, "The focus of negotiations with the United States is ending the war," adding, "At this stage, we are not discussing the nuclear issue."
On the Strait of Hormuz, he said, "We are not discussing the Strait of Hormuz in this agreement," adding, "How this area is managed is an issue for the littoral states." He added, "Together with Oman, we are working to establish an effective mechanism in line with principles."
Spokesperson Baghaei, on the possibility of new clashes with the United States, warned, "Iran excludes no option in defending itself. Any mistake will be met with a stronger response," adding, "Fire cannot be confined to a specific area. If you ignite a fire, you should expect it to spread to other regions."
He also mentioned the role of mediating countries in the current talks. He said, "The progress reported in the media in recent days is the outcome of weeks of talks conducted through the mediator Pakistan and still underway," adding, "Other countries in the Middle East also made good-faith mediation efforts."
However, on the possibility of peace talks in Pakistan, the mediator, he said, "We can consider convening a meeting when we reach a final conclusion and determine that, through the mediator's participation, an exchange of views needs to take place," adding, "For now, we do not feel the need to hold such a meeting."