Iran accuses US of betraying diplomacy for third time this year

The United States has once again betrayed diplomacy by attacking Iran and intensifying military strikes despite the existence of a memorandum aimed at ending hostilities, Iran's Foreign Ministry has stated.

It said the people of Iran, as well as regional and global public opinion, clearly see how the ruling circles in the United States have walked away from diplomacy for the third time this year while simultaneously engaging in negotiations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"This time, they disregarded even their own signature on the 14-point memorandum, violating its provisions under empty pretexts just 20 days after it was signed, and once again ignited the flames of war and hostility against the great nation of Iran," the statement noted.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry further accused Washington of escalating attacks against the Islamic Republic while simultaneously imposing a naval blockade and striking several non-military sites, actions it described as constituting "various war crimes."

Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum in the early hours of June 18 intended to end the conflict that began on February 28.

However, since July 8, US forces have carried out several waves of strikes against Iran. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has maintained that the operations were conducted in response to Iranian actions against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian forces subsequently retaliated with strikes against US military bases in several Middle Eastern countries.

Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of violating the ceasefire memorandum, while US President Donald Trump declared on July 9 that the ceasefire was no longer in effect.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov