Iran's Baghaei confirms mediators continue push for peace, says US had 'no excuse' to violate MoU

What Happened

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Sunday that mediators between Iran and the United States have proposed new ideas to prevent tension from escalating. Baghaei stated that while Iran's armed forces are 'responding with strength and power and destroying the source and origin of American aggression,' diplomacy equally works to protect national interests, characterizing both as indispensable. He also dismissed claims that a Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US is ambiguous, insisting the 14-paragraph text is 'completely clear' and provides no excuse for the US to break the agreement.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The statement reveals that an active diplomatic backchannel continues even as Iran publicly declares military responses to US actions. The reference to a detailed 14-paragraph MoU—previously unpublicized—suggests a formal bilateral understanding, possibly on nuclear or regional issues, and Iran’s transparency push may be aimed at pressuring the US to adhere to its terms. This underscores the regime’s messaging that diplomacy and force are parallel tracks.

Watch For

Identification of the mediators (likely Oman or Qatar) and details of their new proposals. Any US acknowledgment or denial of the MoU and its interpretation. Subsequent Iranian or US military moves that could test the mediation track.