Iranian Official Rejects Ceasefire Extension, Accuses US of Violating Agreement

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Iran does not intend to extend the ceasefire agreement with the United States, which had ended the war initiated by Washington alongside Israel. The official stated, "From our perspective, there is no ceasefire to extend because it never began. The US violated the agreement 48 hours after we reached it and withdrew from it a few days later." He added that one of the issues under discussion is the US returning to the memorandum of understanding, but emphasized that "no progress has been made" and the talks are not focused on extending the ceasefire.

This statement comes two days after former US President Donald Trump renewed threats against Tehran. In a social media post, Trump claimed Iran demanded compensation for war damages and asserted that he also demands reparations from Iran. He said the compensation should include those harmed by Iranian actions over the years and instructed his representatives to raise this demand in any future negotiations.

The memorandum of understanding between the parties included a clause where the US, together with regional partners, committed to developing a plan worth at least $300 billion for Iran's economic reconstruction and development. The mechanism for implementing this plan was to be established within 60 days. Earlier, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, former secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, published a list of conditions for the agreement. Tehran demanded an end to US threats, cessation of the war and "aggression" against Iran and its allies, lifting the maritime blockade, withdrawal of US forces from the region, payment of reparations, removal of sanctions, and release of frozen Iranian assets.