Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Tehran is prepared to immediately return to the terms of an interim agreement reached with the United States in June, which was aimed at ending the war, if Washington also honors its commitments. He made the remarks at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday, a day after the first exchange of fire between the US and Iran in nearly a month.

US forces attacked Larak Island, prompting Iran's retaliation with strikes on two airbases used by American troops in Jordan. Pezeshkian, according to IRNA, the Iranian state news agency, stated: "I am stating clearly that if the US returns to its commitments under the memorandum of understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate."

In mid-June, Iran and the US signed a Pakistan- and Qatar-brokered memorandum that provided for a ceasefire extension, initiating a 60-day period for negotiations aimed at ending the war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28. Under the terms, Iran agreed to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines and allow ships to pass, while the US agreed to end its naval blockade, lift sanctions, issue waivers for Iranian oil exports, and begin work on a reconstruction package.

However, the ceasefire collapsed within weeks, with both sides resuming strikes amid Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the strait. Subsequently, the memorandum lapsed last month. Pezeshkian criticized the US, saying its commitment lasted less than two weeks, and accused Washington of excessive demands and reneging on its promises. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also said the US "broke its promises" under the deal.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that "sincere implementation" of the June memorandum remains the "only way forward" to end the US-Israel war on Iran. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference in Doha that "the return of escalation in the region is in no one's interest," adding that Qatar is working with all partners to reach a peaceful solution and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials from Pakistan, Qatar, and Oman had traveled to Tehran for talks last week in a renewed diplomatic push before the latest exchange of attacks between Iran and the US, underscoring the urgency of de-escalation efforts.

Source: www.aljazeera.com