Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a press conference on Monday that the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran “has entered a crisis stage,” following the escalation in attacks over the past week.
Baghaei argued that any points of the agreement Iran did not fulfill were a direct result of the U.S. having “violated its commitments,” as quoted in a write up published by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
Addressing rumors that weekend talks in Oman addressed broader issues, including nuclear talks, Baghaei said that the discussions “were solely focused on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz.”
“Our effort was to reach a mechanism in consultation with Oman that would ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baghaei added. No agreement was reached, he said, because of “overt and covert pressure from the U.S. on Oman.”
This frame grab taken from AFPTV video footage on July 12, 2026 shows cargo ships anchoring near the Strait of Hormuz off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates at Khor Fakkan.
-/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images
Baghaei said Iran was adhering to the Strait of Hormuz clause in the memorandum of understanding and that Tehran has the right and obligation “to take the necessary measures to protect our security and national interests,” adding that the Strait and surrounding areas had been “misused to harm Iran’s security and national interests.”
The presence of U.S. warships escorting commercial vessels through the Strait, Baghaei said, “confirms the U.S.’ insistence on continuing insecurity in the region.”
Baghaei also defended Iran’s ongoing attacks on neighboring countries, claiming that Iran was only targeting “the bases, facilities, and positions used by the United States to attack Iran, including its logistical and support facilities.”
Among the issues still to be addressed in any final peace settlement is the scale and nature of Iran’s nuclear program. Baghaei on Monday dismissed the idea that Rafael Grossi — the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency — would be allowed to access Iran’s nuclear facilities.
-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule
