Tehran (Web Desk/Agencies): Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the 60-day period linked to negotiations with the United States following a June 17 memorandum of understanding had become irrelevant after Washington allegedly breached the understanding.
“There is no provision in the memorandum of understanding referring to a ‘60-day deadline’, and the Islamic Republic of Iran never formulates its policies under pressure, ultimatums or time limits,” Baghaei told reporters during his weekly news conference, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
He explained that the memorandum had actually set aside 60 days for discussions on two matters — “the lifting of sanctions” and “the nuclear issue” — while allowing the period to be extended if the negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
"Due to the flagrant and widespread violation of the memorandum of understanding by the United States, no dialogue was started just a few weeks after its signing,” Baghaei said.
"As a result, the discussion of the 60-day deadline completely lost its relevance," he added.
Baghaei maintained that American sanctions had “no impact” on Iran and said the core problem preventing progress between Tehran and Washington was not the absence of countries willing to mediate.
“Countries such as Pakistan and Qatar are already playing a role in Iran-US relations,” Baghaei noted.
“It is also entirely natural for some European countries to express their views and indicate their readiness in bilateral contacts to offer their ‘good offices’,” he said. “But this does not mean that a new mediator has emerged or been accepted in the course of Iran-US relations."
He also provided an update on Tehran’s discussions with Oman concerning maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, saying negotiations between the two countries were continuing.
"Compilation of the maritime traffic route map with Oman has taken time due to the security complications caused by the actions of the US and the Israeli regime, the multiplicity of actors and the disruption of malicious currents," he added.
According to Baghaei, any understanding that may emerge from the talks with Muscat would be structured as a package containing a roadmap and a joint statement.
The spokesman also said Iran continued to pursue information about the missing Iranian pilots, stressing that the issue remained on Tehran’s agenda.
"Diplomatic relations with Qatar do not conflict with the serious pursuit of the fate of the army pilots," he said.
On March 2, Qatar’s Defence Ministry announced that its forces had shot down two Iranian Su-24 aircraft.
Tehran said four pilots were killed after their aircraft were struck during attacks targeting a US base in Qatar. Iran later reported that the remains of one pilot had been recovered, while the whereabouts of the remaining three were still unknown.
Qatar on Saturday dismissed Iranian allegations that Doha had detained the three missing pilots.
The developments followed the start of US and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28.
Tehran responded with retaliatory attacks against countries in the region that host US military facilities.
Iran and the United States reached a ceasefire agreement in April before signing a memorandum of understanding in June, with the stated aim of ending their military confrontation and working toward a lasting peace deal.
The agreement ultimately broke down last month, leading to almost two weeks of renewed attacks between Iran and the United States. US President Donald Trump eventually brought the bombardment to an abrupt halt as diplomatic efforts continued to revive the agreement.