Iran Accuses U.S. of 'Habitual' Treaty Violations, Citing Breaches Weeks After Signing
In a late-night interview on July 10, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, delivered a sharp rebuke of the United States' recent actions. He stated that breaking international agreements has become "a habit" for the U.S. government, providing a timeline of alleged violations as proof.
Violations Begin Within Weeks of Agreement
Kanaani revealed that the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding, comprising 14 articles, was signed in mid-June. However, within just 22 days, the United States was accused of breaching several of its key provisions.
- Military Strikes Contravene De-escalation Pledges: U.S. military attacks on Iran on July 8 and 9 directly violated Articles 1 and 2 of the MoU concerning the cessation of hostilities.
- Renewed Economic Pressure: The U.S. revocation of waivers related to Iranian oil sanctions breached Article 10.
- Imposition of New Sanctions: Washington's announcement of fresh sanctions against Iran conflicted with Article 9.
Kanaani emphasized that the U.S. had used various pretexts for its actions, which ultimately demonstrated a disregard for the bilateral pact.
"A Consistent Pattern" in U.S. Foreign Policy
Commenting on the developments, Kanaani framed the issue as part of a broader U.S. foreign policy pattern. "We should not be surprised by this," he said. "Treaty violation has been part of the behavioral pattern of successive U.S. administrations." This suggests Tehran views the current incidents not as isolated events, but as a recurring feature of U.S. diplomatic conduct.
The remarks underscore a deep-seated Iranian distrust in reaching reliable agreements with the United States. Analysts suggest this could impact the foundation of any future bilateral talks, with Iran potentially demanding stricter enforcement mechanisms or international guarantees.