Brussels: Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced that Tehran has suspended its commitments to a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU), citing violations by the United States.

According to Anadolu Agency, Gharibabadi stated that the US had breached and subsequently suspended its obligations under the Islamabad MoU. "We have also suspended our commitments, we are not implementing them, and we are busy defending the country," he declared in a statement reported by Iran's semi-official news agency Fars.

In a related development, Iran accused the US of attempting to take unilateral control over the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian government claims the US is ignoring an agreement that mandates the strategic waterway be managed in collaboration with Oman and other regional nations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, as reported by the Tasnim News Agency, emphasized that 'Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding explicitly emphasizes the management of the Strait of Hormuz in consultation with Oman and countries in the region.' Baqaei argued that the US's actions were an attempt to dominate this critical maritime passage.

Baqaei justified Iran's recent restrictions in the strait as a 'responsible response' to prevent aggressors from using the waterway to launch attacks against Iran. He further claimed that instability in the region is fueled by the joint interventions of the US and Israel, which perpetuate conflict and violence.

The tensions underscore ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, with recent military escalations between the US and Iran. This development follows a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding signed in June, which aimed to cease hostilities and establish a lasting peace agreement.