Iran has said that negotiations with the United States on a final agreement have not yet started because key conditions under an interim memorandum of understanding remain unfulfilled.
According to Iranian officials, progress toward a final agreement depends on the implementation and continuation of several agreed provisions.
The proposed final discussions would include matters related to Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, authorities in Tehran maintain that the process cannot move forward until earlier commitments under the interim arrangement begin taking effect.
As a result, discussions on a broader agreement remain paused.
Iran Links Future Talks to Interim Agreement Implementation
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei explained that negotiations on a final agreement remain conditional on the execution of specific articles contained in the memorandum.
In comments carried by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Baghaei outlined Tehran’s position regarding the next phase of diplomacy.
“We have not yet entered the negotiation phase for a final agreement,” Baghaei said.
He further stated that Article 13 of the memorandum establishes clear conditions before final negotiations can begin.
According to his explanation, talks on a permanent agreement depend on progress under Articles 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11.
Therefore, Iran considers implementation of those measures necessary before entering the next stage.
Which Conditions Does Iran Say Must Be Met?
Iran pointed to several provisions within the interim understanding that it says must move forward before final negotiations begin.
According to Baghaei, Article 1 calls for an end to the war across all fronts, including Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Article 4 requires the United States to remove its naval blockade on Iranian ports and withdraw forces from the “proximity” of Iranian territory.
In addition, Article 5 focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Article 10 addresses the removal of sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports.
At the same time, Article 11 calls for the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.
Iran argues that these provisions form the basis for moving discussions toward a longer-term agreement.
What Happens Next?
At present, Iranian officials have not indicated when negotiations on a final agreement may begin.
Instead, Tehran continues to link future diplomatic engagement to implementation of the memorandum’s outlined commitments.
For now, Iranian authorities maintain that discussions remain at the interim stage rather than moving into final agreement negotiations.
Whether implementation of the identified provisions leads to formal talks remains uncertain.
However, Iran’s latest position signals that future negotiations will depend on progress under the existing framework before broader discussions can proceed.
