Iran has delivered a stark ultimatum to the United States, declaring that the only path out of the current crisis lies in Washington’s full compliance with the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) a deal signed by both nations’ presidents or else the conflict will persist.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a firm but measured tone, describing his bilateral meetings as “completely businesslike and devoid of usual formalities.” He said the discussions centered on economic cooperation and multilateral ties, but were inevitably overshadowed by the fallout from U.S. military aggression.
“We emphasized that the Iranian nation will continue to stand firm in claiming its legitimate rights, and this message was reiterated in every single meeting,” Araghchi told reporters.
Central to Tehran’s position is the Islamabad MoU—brokered with Pakistani mediation and signed in June which outlined a comprehensive framework for de-escalation. The accord provided for an immediate cessation of military operations, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, Iranian arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a roadmap toward sanctions relief, and a $300 billion reconstruction package.
However, according to Iranian officials, the United States violated the understanding by launching deadly airstrikes on Iranian territory and reinforcing its naval stranglehold over the country’s maritime access.
“The United States must return to its commitments and adhere to the provisions of the memorandum it signed,” Araghchi asserted. “Only then can we exit this situation. All regional and global nations share a common concern: that this war ends as swiftly as possible.”
He added: “The solution is entirely clear and specified. America must revert to the same agreement its own president signed. In that case, everything can be placed back on the right track.”
The foreign minister’s remarks came as President Masoud Pezeshkian, accompanied by Araghchi, arrived in Bishkek to address both the SCO Council of Heads of State and the expanded SCO Plus format. The two-day summit, hosted by Kyrgyzstan under the theme “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity,” has provided Iran with a key platform to advocate for multilateralism as a bulwark against unilateral coercion.
Pakistan, which played a pivotal role in securing the April 8 ceasefire that ended the 40-day U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, has been a vocal proponent of diplomatic resolutions. Iranian officials have consistently stressed that Tehran remains ready to implement the Islamabad MoU—but only if Washington honors the commitments its own president affixed to paper.
Tehran’s stance has grown increasingly assertive within SCO circles. At the foreign ministers’ meeting in July, Araghchi issued a pointed warning that any nation assisting U.S. military operations against Iran could become a legitimate target. He also called on member states to reject what he termed “the replacement of diplomacy by aggression, right by force, and justice by double standards.”
Iranian authorities have repeatedly underscored that de-escalation does not hinge on fresh negotiations dictated by Washington’s terms, but rather on a return to an already-existing accord sealed at the highest level. The Islamic Republic, they insist, will not yield its sovereignty or its rights—even as the specter of wider conflict looms.
With the SCO summit continuing through Tuesday, all eyes remain on whether diplomatic back-channels can revive the Islamabad MoU or whether the region braces for yet another chapter of escalation.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)