Iran says it has suspended the ceasefire MoU obligations tied to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, and in the same breath it claims the United States first broke its own promises. The decision, which comes as tensions keep on simmering between Tehran and Washington, has again pushed observers to worry about what happens next.
Iran-US Tensions Escalate as Tehran Halts Ceasefire
Kazem Gharibabadi Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister said Tehran moved to stop honoring the agreement after the US, he said, failed to keep to what it agreed in the pact. “The US has violated and suspended all its commitments within the framework of the Islamabad MOU,” Gharibabadi said , and noted that Iran was also suspending its obligations, while meanwhile focusing on defending the country.
Trump says the deal is finished
The announcement arrived shortly after US President Donald Trump said Washington no longer views the arrangement as being in force. Ahead of the NATO summit, Trump remarked, “To me , I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them,” and he also took aim at Iran’s leadership in the process.
Pakistan asks both sides to stick to the MoU
Pakistan meanwhile urged Iran and the US to stick with the Islamabad MoU and avoid any further climb in tensions. Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on both countries to respect the understanding and move toward de-escalation, pointing to worries about regional stability that have been building for some time.
So what was the Islamabad MoU anyway?
The MoU was signed last month after indirect negotiations, and it was meant to calm down Iran and the US by putting in place a ceasefire structure. It also aimed to help safeguard commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and to set up a route for talks on sanctions relief plus Iran’s nuclear programme.
Still, the arrangement hit headwinds soon after, with both sides trading accusations of noncompliance. The US accused Iran of targeting commercial ships and contributing to instability across the region. In response, Tehran said Washington broke the deal by restarting military operations, and by not meeting several major commitments.