Iran says 60-day deadline meaningless after U.S. violated MOU

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said the so-called 60-day deadline had become completely meaningless after the United States violated a memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington on June 18, local time. Baghaei said the MOU contained no clause mentioning any 60-day deadline and stressed that Iran does not formulate policy under pressure, ultimatums, or time limits. Baghaei added that the MOU had originally set a 60-day negotiation period on two agenda items, sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, with the option to extend the period if no agreement was reached. But the United States, Baghaei said, violated the agreement "seriously and extensively" within weeks of signing it, preventing the negotiations from getting underway at all. He added that the 60-day deadline had therefore become completely meaningless.