As the armed clash between the United States and Iran entered its seventh day, Iran declared it would officially suspend implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for ending hostilities between the two countries. This is the first time the Iranian government has publicly acknowledged that the MOU signed last month has effectively lost its force.
On the 18th (local time), according to Iran's Fars News Agency and others, Iran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said the United States first violated its obligations under the end-of-hostilities MOU, adding, "We will no longer implement any obligations."
Vice Minister Gharibabadi said, "The United States violated and halted all of its obligations under the Islamabad MOU," adding, "As a result, we too have suspended all implementation of obligations under the MOU and are no longer fulfilling any commitments."
He also drew a line against the possibility of resuming talks with the United States. He said, "Our top priority right now is to defend the nation," adding, "The United States will have realized that it can gain nothing through military pressure." He added, "If they are wise, they should choose another option."
Al Jazeera assessed that this is the first time the Iranian government has officially declared the termination of the MOU and the suspension of implementing its obligations.
The United States and Iran signed an end-of-hostilities MOU on the 17th of last month that included ensuring safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and pursuing nuclear talks for 60 days. However, as differences over how to manage the Strait of Hormuz narrowed little, the talks effectively made no progress, and the two countries again entered into armed clashes this month.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted airstrikes on Iran for the seventh consecutive day. The United States has struck surveillance facilities, logistics support facilities, and underground weapons depots, and recently has expanded its targets to civilian infrastructure such as airports, railways, and bridges.
Iran is also continuing retaliatory offensives targeting U.S. forces in the Gulf region and U.S. allies. According to Agence France-Presse, in Kuwait, parts of a power plant and a desalination facility were hit by Iranian attacks, halting operation of power equipment, and the international airport temporarily suspended flights due to missile and drone threats. Bahrain said it intercepted Iran's airstrikes with its air defense network, and Qatar and Jordan also announced they shot down missiles that approached their airspace.
The Middle East situation is worsening as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea rise simultaneously. With Iran formalizing the suspension of implementing the end-of-hostilities MOU, assessments say the possibility of an early cease-fire through a diplomatic solution has diminished further