Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran views the newly signed memorandum of understanding with the United States as a diplomatic victory and warned that Iran will closely monitor U.S. compliance.
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday that Iran views its newly signed memorandum of understanding with the United States as a major victory, declaring that Tehran had “defeated two nuclear powers” and calling Iran “a superpower.”
Speaking to Iranian state television after the agreement was finalized, Baghaei said the document had been signed by both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“As I speak with you now, the text of the memorandum of understanding has been signed by the presidents of Iran and the U.S.,” Baghaei said.
“The text of the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding is now officially finalized as both parties have signed it,” he added.
Baghaei said the Persian and English versions of the agreement are identical.
The memorandum is intended to halt hostilities between the United States and Iran while opening a 60-day negotiating period for a broader agreement. The talks are expected to address nuclear restrictions, sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz and other unresolved issues.
Baghaei said implementation will be more difficult than negotiating the agreement and warned that Tehran will closely scrutinize Washington’s actions.
“Iran will monitor the U.S.’ compliance without any leniency,” he said.
He added that Iran would not fulfill its obligations if Washington “evades its obligations.”
Under the terms outlined by Baghaei, Iran expects immediate relief from restrictions on oil exports, along with access to international shipping, insurance services and oil revenues.
He said the United States must also refrain from reinforcing military deployments in the region or imposing new sanctions during the 60-day negotiating period.
“Within the 60-day window, the other side must not take action to reinforce its military presence in the region or impose new sanctions,” Baghaei said. “Such actions would be considered a violation of the agreement.”
Baghaei also said Iran intends to retain its enriched uranium stockpile inside the country.
Although the memorandum does not explicitly state that Iran may keep enriched uranium, Baghaei rejected any transfer of nuclear material abroad.
“Transferring enriched nuclear material out of the country is unacceptable to us,” he said. “Diluting enriched material is not a new option. It has now been introduced as one option, so as not to close the door on other options.”
Baghaei also said Iran’s ballistic missile program will not be included in negotiations, despite concerns from the United States, Israel and other countries about Tehran’s missile arsenal.
“Iran’s missiles are meant to be fired, not negotiated over. Our missiles don’t even like being talked about,” Baghaei said. “Iran’s defensive capabilities will not be discussed in any process, with any party.”
The preservation of Iran’s ballistic missile program is a central issue in the debate over the agreement. The Trump administration had previously criticized former President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, arguing that it failed to address Iran’s missile program. Trump also said at the outbreak of the war that stopping Iran’s missile program was critical for the United States and Israel.
Baghaei also discussed Iran’s plans for the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which a significant share of global oil exports passes.
He said Iran and Oman had largely agreed on mechanisms for managing the strait and said Tehran would charge fees to vessels using related services.
“Iran will charge fees for services in the Strait of Hormuz,” Baghaei said. “The mechanisms for managing the Strait of Hormuz have largely been agreed upon with Oman.”
He said safe passage would be maintained while preserving “the sovereignty and dominion of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.”
Baghaei framed the agreement as a diplomatic success for Tehran after months of regional conflict.
“Our enemies have inflicted harm on us,” he said. “But a wounded lion remains a lion. The war they imposed not only did not bring us to our knees, but made us stronger.”
Baghaei then described Iran as a major power.
“Iran defeated two nuclear powers that were also backed by some other countries,” he said. “We are not making slogans: We truly are a superpower.”
The agreement has drawn criticism from Israel and some American political leaders, who argue that the memorandum gives Tehran significant concessions while allowing it to retain its missile capabilities and enriched uranium stockpile.
Israeli officials have characterized the arrangement as dangerous and warned that it could embolden Iran while weakening regional security.
Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz has argued that Trump’s agreement is a “catastrophic capitulation to” Iran and leaves Israel vulnerable and constrained.
Horovitz said the memorandum is one-sided and argued that it provides Iran with up to $100 billion in immediate aid without a formal agreement resolving its nuclear weapons program or long-term intentions.
The dispute over the agreement is expected to continue as the 60-day negotiation period begins.
U.S. officials have described the memorandum as a preliminary framework rather than a final settlement. Iran, however, is presenting the deal as a diplomatic achievement that preserves its sovereignty, missile program and leverage in future negotiations.
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