Iranian delegation arrives in Switzerland to follow up on Islamabad memorandum

An Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has arrived in Switzerland to pursue implementation of commitments contained in a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding recently signed between the Islamic Republic and the US.

The delegation, named "Minab 168" in memory of the schoolchildren and others, who were martyred upon the launch of the latest unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against the country in southern Iran, reached Switzerland on Saturday evening local time.

The delegation is expected to hold discussions on how obligations agreed upon by the two sides will be carried out.

According to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Office, the premier and Army Chief Asim Munir will also participate in the talks.

Ahead of the trip, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that the visit should not be viewed as the start of a new round of negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement.

"This trip is essentially aimed at demanding the fulfillment of the other party's commitments," Baghaei said. "Any understanding or agreement is ultimately tested during the implementation phase."

According to the official, the visit had originally been planned in connection with the signing of the memorandum, but the document was ultimately signed remotely by the presidents of the two countries.

He said Tehran's immediate focus is to assess implementation of commitments already undertaken by the other side and obtain assurances regarding their execution.

"The other side must take necessary steps as soon as possible. Otherwise, the entire understanding is in trouble," he said.

Baghaei added that talks on a final agreement cannot begin until implementation of several key provisions of the memorandum is underway. "Unfortunately, we are not witnessing that situation at present," he said.

The spokesman voiced concern over continued Israeli military aggression against Lebanon, emphasizing that they undermine the first clause of the memorandum, namely cessation of aggression on all fronts, including Lebanon.

"The other party was required to compel the Israeli regime to halt its attacks in Lebanon," he said. "Its failure to do so amounts to a clear violation of the understanding."

Also on Saturday, Iran’s central military command officially declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, citing US and Israeli violations of the MoU.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the closure came in response to "the explicit breach of the first clause of the post-war memorandum of understanding by the United States" and "the Zionist regime's continuous and ongoing violations of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon."

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