Iran announces suspension of its commitments under the memorandum of understanding with Washington

SadaNews - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced on Saturday that his country has suspended its commitments stated in the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. This was stated in remarks made by Gharibabadi to Iranian state television regarding Tehran's position on the memorandum of understanding concluded with Washington. He said that the United States has violated all its commitments stated in the memorandum and suspended the implementation of all its clauses. He added that Iran, in turn, has suspended its commitments stated in the memorandum and no longer applies them. Gharibabadi confirmed that his country is currently focused on defending itself. He mentioned that the United States began its attacks during the negotiation phase, and it realized again that its offensive approach would not yield results, and received "the necessary response". The United States began its latest attacks on Iran on the night of July 7-8, targeting particularly areas in the south of the country and its infrastructure facilities. For several days, the United States has been launching successive waves of strikes on sites inside Iran, while Tehran is carrying out attacks on what it calls American ships, facilities, and military bases in several countries in the region. On June 18, 2026, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding that included halting military operations and starting negotiations to reach a broader agreement. However, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 8 that the temporary agreement had ended, following the targeting of three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, leading Washington to resume its strikes inside Iran amidst rising Iranian responses in the region. Washington demands guarantees for the freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran insists on enforcing a mechanism to regulate the transit of ships through the strategic passage, exacerbating concerns about disruptions to oil and gas exports from the region.