US responsible to end war on all fronts, including Lebanon, Iranian FM says

What Happened

In a phone call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the United States bears responsibility to end the war 'on all fronts, including Lebanon,' and that Washington would be held accountable for any violation of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai disclosed that the MoU was digitally signed on Friday morning, which led to the cancellation of previously scheduled US-Iran talks in Switzerland that were intended for a signing ceremony. Baghai added that a meeting is now being planned 'in the coming days.' Separately, Baghai denied reports that Iran had invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect nuclear facilities, affirming that inspections would remain prohibited at certain sites pending further agreements. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry announced that mediators including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt will meet in Cairo on Sunday to continue negotiations.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The exchange signals active, multi-track diplomacy amid escalating Iran-Israel tensions and the Lebanon conflict, with regional powers (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt) mediating directly. The digital MoU and cancelled talks highlight volatile backchannel negotiations, while the IAEA denial underscores continued opacity over Iran’s nuclear programme. The confluence of these diplomatic moves and nuclear ambiguity could either pave the way for de-escalation or deepen the standoff between Iran, the US, and Israel.

Watch For

The Cairo meeting of mediators on Sunday; any announcement of a rescheduled US-Iran meeting; the US response to Iran’s accusations and the MoU; and IAEA reactions to the inspection denial, which may surface in the next IAEA Board of Governors report or informal briefings.