As the 60-day period for negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement between the United States and Iran draws to a close, the United Nations has once again called on the parties to resume talks.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had maintained his message that there is no military solution to the conflict. Dujarric said Guterres was urging the United States and Iran to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible for a peaceful and lasting settlement.
Dujarric said the increasingly harsh rhetoric in recent days should also be toned down. Guterres made the same call after the attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.
Timeline of the US-Iran agreement
The two countries agreed to a ceasefire in April with the aim of ending the military conflict and reaching a lasting peace agreement. In June, the United States and Iran signed an understanding that allowed time for negotiations on a more comprehensive settlement; however, the agreement collapsed last month, and the parties exchanged attacks for approximately two weeks.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the period set for the talks following the June 17 understanding had lost its significance because Washington had committed explicit violations, in Iran’s view.
US President Donald Trump suddenly halted the bombing as efforts to revive the agreement continued. Dujarric was also asked about the latest meeting in Israel between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, Trump’s adviser and son-in-law. The UN spokesman said he had no updated information about the meeting.
