Iran: Makkah Defence Pact No Threat, No US Talks Until Violations End
ISLAMABAD: Iran has said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement poses no threat to the country, while making clear that Tehran will not resume talks with the United States as long as what it describes as violations of an interim agreement continue.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has consistently advocated peace but would not engage in negotiations with Washington until the alleged violations are addressed.
Commenting on the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said positive discussions had taken place between Iran and Oman. He maintained that the strategically important waterway could be reopened if third-party interference was avoided.
The Iranian spokesperson also accused the United States of contributing to instability in the Middle East and criticised Israel over its military operations in Gaza. He said Israel was continuing to fuel tensions in the region and reaffirmed Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause.
Baghaei said regional countries had increasingly recognised that security cannot be achieved through what he called unreliable commitments. He stressed the need for a comprehensive regional security framework that takes into account the region’s geographical and historical realities and accurately identifies security threats.
He argued that such an approach could contribute to regional stability and help prevent further escalation and alleged violations by Israel and its allies.
The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson also paid tribute to journalists killed while carrying out their duties in Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, saying numerous journalists had lost their lives over the past two years.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had also said Tehran would not hold talks with Washington until the alleged violation of the interim agreement was resolved.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that an agreement between Tehran and Muscat regarding the Strait of Hormuz had entered its final stages. However, Araghchi indicated that the waterway would not immediately be reopened for maritime traffic even after an agreement is reached.