DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A senior Iranian source denied that Iran-US ceasefire extension talks were underway on Wednesday, contradicting a report that Iran had accepted an extension.
Reuters published the denial, saying Iran viewed the June agreement as having no start date. Therefore, Tehran considered there was “nothing to extend.”
Anadolu Agency’s conflicting report on the Iran-US ceasefire extension cited Pakistani government sources. They said both countries had accepted more negotiating time. Neither government had publicly confirmed that account.
The Iranian source alleged that the United States violated the interim agreement within 48 hours. The source said Washington withdrew several days later.
The agreement called for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations, Reuters reported. President Donald Trump of the United States declared it “over” on July 7. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said one week later that Tehran had suspended it.
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Both sides agreed to a 60-day negotiating period with an option to extend. They were expected to pursue a final agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme and US sanctions.
The source said mediators were discussing a US return to the interim pact and a timetable for its commitments. The official said those efforts had made “absolutely no progress.”
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Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad was continuing efforts to return both sides to negotiations, according to Anadolu.
