TEHRAN, Iran (Bernama-Anadolu): Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the 60-day deadline for talks with the US following the June 17 memorandum of understanding "lost its relevance" after what he called "flagrant" violations by Washington, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
"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,” Baqaei told reporters at a weekly news conference.
The memorandum instead envisaged a 60-day period for negotiations on two issues - "the lifting of sanctions” and "the nuclear issue” - which could have been extended if no agreement was reached, he added.
"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,” Baqaei said.
"As a result, the discussion of the 60-day deadline completely lost its relevance," he added.
The spokesman claimed that the US sanctions have "no impact" on Iran, saying the main obstacle to resolving disputes between Tehran and Washington "is not a lack of mediators.”
"Countries such as Pakistan and Qatar are already playing a role in Iran-US relations,” Baqaei 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."
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
