Baghaei: Iran Has No Plan for Negotiations with the United States

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explicitly stated in his recent press conference on July 16, 2026, that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of resuming talks with Washington [1]. Referring to the critical situation in the West Asia region and the escalation of military confrontations between the two sides, he noted that the main priority of the diplomatic apparatus and the armed forces at present is the defense of territorial integrity and national security [2].

The Fate of the June 17 Memorandum and Washington's Bad Faith A major part of Baghaei's remarks was dedicated to the fate of the June 17 Memorandum (June 17, 2026), which was signed with the aim of reducing regional tensions. Severely criticizing the performance of the United States, he claimed that Washington "mutilated" this agreement from the very first clause and has not adhered to its commitments [3]. Baghaei emphasized that the memorandum is valuable to Iran only when it truly secures national interests and security. He added: "When the other side does not fulfill its obligations and has begun breaking the pact, we also do not consider ourselves bound to implement the reciprocal clauses" [4].

Focus on Defense Following Military Attacks The diplomatic spokesperson pointed to recent United States attacks on coastal areas in southern Iran as well as an attack on an army dormitory, considering these actions clear examples of aggression and completely illegal [1]. In response to claims by American officials that military pressure could force Iran back to the negotiating table, Baghaei stated that Tehran will not negotiate under pressure and threats [3]. He warned that the Iranian armed forces will respond to any aggression with full force and are following a "blow for blow" policy [2].

The Role of Mediators and Tehran's Final Position While reports of diplomatic visits by regional mediators such as Qatar to Iran have been published, Baghaei emphasized that accepting these visits is merely to hear perspectives and announce Tehran's transparent positions, and does not mean planning for direct negotiations with the United States [4]. He noted that Iran has never left the negotiating table in principle, but returning to any agreement requires a serious change in Washington's behavior, the effective lifting of sanctions, and the cessation of hostile military actions [1]. Currently, from Tehran's perspective, diplomacy is at a deadlock caused by United States actions, and the field of defense is the first priority.