A technical delegation from Iran will travel to Qatar this week to monitor the release of Iranian financial assets frozen abroad, provided for in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States to end the war between the two countries. While seeking to ensure compliance with this and other commitments set out in the agreement, Tehran claims that it has not yet started negotiations for a definitive agreement with Washington.
In a press conference this Tuesday (30), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran’s priority is to ensure the implementation of the memorandum’s provisions before moving to a new stage of negotiations. “The current priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the memorandum, and we are committed to seriously meeting our demands in this regard,” he stated.
According to Baghaei, the Iranian government monitors the implementation of two of the points considered central to the agreement. The first is paragraph 10, which determines that the United States issue the necessary exemptions to allow the resumption of Iranian oil exports, in addition to banking, insurance, transportation and other services related to the sector. “The necessary exemptions were granted by the United States and we are following the implementation process,” he stated.
The second is paragraph 11, which provides for the full release of Iranian assets and funds frozen abroad. According to the spokesperson, it is precisely to monitor the operationalization of this measure that Iranian experts will be in Doha in the coming days. The memorandum establishes that these resources must be fully available for use by the Central Bank of Iran, through procedures agreed between the parties.
Baghaei also refuted statements by United States President Donald Trump that Iran had requested a meeting following the recent exchange of attacks between the two countries. According to the spokesperson, “we have not yet entered the negotiation phase for a final agreement”, and the memorandum itself conditions the start of these conversations on progress in implementing the initial measures.
Paragraph 13 of the document establishes that negotiations on a definitive agreement can only begin after five commitments considered essential have been put into practice, and continue to be implemented: the permanent ceasefire and the end of military operations; the removal of the blockade imposed by the United States and its forces in the vicinity of Iranian territory; guarantees for commercial navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz; the issuance of exemptions for Iranian oil exports; and the release of frozen financial assets. Only after this stage will the other topics set out in the memorandum be negotiated, including the Iranian nuclear program, the timetable for lifting sanctions and the agreement’s permanent monitoring mechanisms.
Baghaei’s statements also respond to speculation caused by the presence of US authorities in Doha. In recent days, information has emerged that US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would be in Qatar during the Iranian mission’s visit. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that there is no meeting scheduled between them and Iranian authorities.
“As far as I know, there are no direct meetings scheduled between the two parties in the coming days,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told the press in Doha, adding that the US delegation would meet with the mediators in the negotiations with Iran.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
