Iran confirms MOU text agreed upon, to take effect after signing on June 19; SNSC says 'difficult, intensive' negotiations completed under supreme leader's guidance

A pedestrian walks past a banner displaying portraits of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Revolution (left), Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and his son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei (right) at Vanak Square in Tehran on June 10. [AFP]
A pedestrian walks past a banner displaying portraits of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Revolution (left), Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and his son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei (right) at Vanak Square in Tehran on June 10. [AFP]

Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the body that sets the country's security policy, announced Monday the end of the war following an agreement with the United States to sign a memorandum of understanding.

In a statement, the SNSC said the text of the MOU governing a ceasefire between Iran and the United States had been finalized with its approval, and that the document was set for official signing on June 19. "In accordance with the agreement reached, the war and all military operations on every front, including Lebanon, will be immediately and permanently ended," the statement said, adding that a maritime blockade on Iran would also be "immediately and fully lifted."

The SNSC said it had "completed difficult and intensive negotiations under the teachings of the late martyred Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the guidance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the unwavering support of the Iranian people, and the tireless efforts of the military authorities."

Follow-up talks aimed at reaching a final comprehensive agreement would be postponed until both sides had fulfilled the obligations set out in the MOU, the SNSC said.

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed the ceasefire plan on state television, saying Iran's obligations under the agreement would take effect on June 19.

He said negotiations toward a final agreement would proceed over 60 days, and added that if the other side committed "any violations," Iran would take its own measures in response.

Gharibabadi also claimed that "the enemy, which attacked to achieve its malicious goals, has been defeated on every objective, and Iran has achieved a great victory in this war."


yckim6452@heraldcorp.com