Iran Challenges US President’s Account of Economic Pact
Iranian media outlets are refuting claims made by United States President Donald Trump regarding a recently discussed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Reports indicate that the Iranian perspective differs significantly from the President’s public statements, suggesting a narrative that mixes fact with fiction and attempts to project an unwarranted sense of victory.
Details of the Disputed MOU
ParsToday, a state-run news agency, reported on the discrepancies. According to ParsToday, the initial draft of the MOU was still undergoing final approval within Iran and had not yet reached a definitive decision. The agency suggests that President Trump’s public pronouncements may stem from an awareness that withdrawing from the agreed-upon terms would be difficult.
The report further alleges that President Trump’s contradictory statements are intended to bring the ongoing discussions to a premature close. A key point of contention highlighted by the Iranian media concerns provisions related to the Strait of Hormuz. ParsToday asserts that the initial MOU draft did not include clauses for unimpeded access for naval vessels.
Instead, the Iranian side insists that following the lifting of sanctions by the United States, Iran would proceed with developing its naval capabilities according to its own established procedures. Similarly, the media outlet claims that the MOU draft did not contain any provisions for the destruction of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Financial Agreements and Future Negotiations
The report also addresses the frozen assets of Iran, amounting to approximately $12 billion (around 18 trillion South Korean won). ParsToday states that the agreement stipulated the immediate release of these funds upon the signing of the economic pact.
ParsToday emphasized that Iran would only engage in further discussions regarding the lifting of all sanctions and nuclear-related issues once these foundational matters are resolved. Any final agreement, the agency stressed, would be based on the principles of the Iranian system and a profound distrust of the United States.
