Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, announced on August 12 that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US is viewed as a diplomatic victory for Tehran. Speaking at a closed session with lawmakers, Ghalibaf stressed that the move opens a new chapter in relations between the two countries, which have seen decades of disagreements.
According to the Parliament Speaker's office, the MoU was signed following prolonged negotiation rounds conducted by senior officials from both sides in Vienna over the past two weeks. The memorandum includes commitments on nuclear controls, sanctions relief, and economic-technical cooperation, though US officials have not confirmed specific details.
Ghalibaf called it a "diplomatic victory" for Iran, as the country secured significant concessions from the US while preserving its core security and development interests. He affirmed that Iran is ready to continue fulfilling its obligations if the US adheres to the spirit of the MoU.
Analysts suggest that Ghalibaf's statement reflects the stance of hardliners within Iran's political landscape, who aim to show that negotiations with the US are not a concession but a result of steadfastness and struggle. However, some opposition lawmakers have voiced objections, arguing that the MoU lacks clear monitoring mechanisms and could affect national security in the long term.
Currently, both the Iranian President's office and the US State Department have not issued official comments on Ghalibaf's remarks. The MoU is expected to be submitted to Iran's Parliament for ratification at the next session before officially taking effect.
